Types of bridge
A bridge is a spanning structure that creates a passage over an obstacle such as a river, gorge, valley, road, railway and so on.
There are a wide range of different types of bridge, including:
- Aqueduct (a bridge carrying water).
- Arch bridges (a load-bearing arch in a state of compression).
- Bascule bridge (a lifting bridge).
- Beam bridges (simple beam or cantilever structures).
- Drawbridge (lifted at one end by cables – sometimes associated with castles and other defensive buildings).
- Green bridge (a crossing that allows the safe passage of wildlife).
- Half through bridge (a bridge in which the lower chord carries the vehicular or pedestrian traffic).
- Lift bridge (a bridge that lifts to allow passage underneath).
- Movable bridge (a spanning structure that can change position or shape to accommodate different situations.
- Navigable aqueduct (structures that incorporate canals above other waterways, valleys or transportation infrastructure).
- Overbridge (a bridge crossing over a transport corridor).
- Pontoon bridge (a floating bridge).
- Retractable bridge (to accommodate different situations and different types of traffic – such as a thrust bridge).
- Submersible bridge (or ducking bridge).
- Suspension bridges (towers secured by cables that suspend the central structural span or deck).
- Swing bridge (a bridge that opens by swinging).
- Through bridge (a bridge in which the lower chord carries the vehicular or pedestrian traffic and having cross-bracing located above the traffic).
- Underbridge (a bridge crossing under a transport corridor such as a railway).
- Viaduct (a bridge like structure composed of a series of spans, used to carry roads and railways across valleys and other depressions).
NB The word 'bridge' can also be a used as a verb meaning to make a bridge over something or between things.
In the construction industry, the word bridge might also refer to a cold bridge. This is a situation in which there is a direct connection between the inside and outside of a building through one or more elements that are more thermally conductive than the rest of the building envelope. For more information see: Cold bridge.
[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings
- 3D printed bridge.
- Assessing bridges.
- Bridge construction.
- Bridge structures.
- Clifton Suspension Bridge.
- Examples of bridges.
- Garden bridge.
- Genoa bridge collapse.
- Learning from the Genoa bridge collapse.
- London Bridge and its houses, c1209-1761.
- Optimal arch bridge.
- Queensferry Crossing.
- Saving Dick Nunn's bridge.
- The Iron Bridge.
- The Menai Suspension Bridge.
- The Millau Viaduct.
Featured articles and news
Combating burnout.
The 5 elements of seiri, seiton, seiso, seiketsu and shitsuke.
Shading for housing, a design guide
A look back at embedding a new culture of shading.
The Architectural Technology Awards
The AT Awards 2025 are open for entries!
ECA Blueprint for Electrification
The 'mosaic of interconnected challenges' and how to deliver the UK’s Transition to Clean Power.
Grenfell Tower Principal Contractor Award notice
Tower repair and maintenance contractor announced as demolition contractor.
Passivhaus social homes benefit from heat pump service
Sixteen new homes designed and built to achieve Passivhaus constructed in Dumfries & Galloway.
CABE Publishes Results of 2025 Building Control Survey
Concern over lack of understanding of how roles have changed since the introduction of the BSA 2022.
British Architectural Sculpture 1851-1951
A rich heritage of decorative and figurative sculpture. Book review.
A programme to tackle the lack of diversity.
Independent Building Control review panel
Five members of the newly established, Grenfell Tower Inquiry recommended, panel appointed.
Welsh Recharging Electrical Skills Charter progresses
ECA progressing on the ‘asks’ of the Recharging Electrical Skills Charter at the Senedd in Wales.
A brief history from 1890s to 2020s.
CIOB and CORBON combine forces
To elevate professional standards in Nigeria’s construction industry.
Amendment to the GB Energy Bill welcomed by ECA
Move prevents nationally-owned energy company from investing in solar panels produced by modern slavery.
Gregor Harvie argues that AI is state-sanctioned theft of IP.
Experimental AI housing target help for councils
Experimental AI could help councils meet housing targets by digitising records.
Comments
[edit] To make a comment about this article, click 'Add a comment' above. Separate your comments from any existing comments by inserting a horizontal line.
Any more information about viaducts?