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.
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Any more information about viaducts?