About 400m west of the bus terminal are substantial ruined sections of this partly Sassanid bridge cum weir, also known as Band-i Qaisar or Valerian’s Bridge. Along with the Band-e-Mizan weir, this raised the river level by 2m, providing the waters necessary for irrigation and mills. Considered a wonder of the world by 7th-century invading Arabs, the workers and architects were Roman captives. The bridge originally had 45 arches and remained intact, albeit with many a renovation, until around a century ago. According to some Khuzestani historians, it was then deliberately dynamited by British agents. The idea was to break Shushtar’s trade connections, thus encouraging locals to seek alternative work at the new (British-owned) oilfields of Masjid-i Soleiman. Less conspiratorial theories blame rebellions and floods for the bridge’s deterioration.
Today the Pol-e Shandravan ruins parallel to a newer Dezful Rd bridge. A park is being built to landscape the scene.
