The masonry Bridge of 33 Arches over the Zayandeh River is the epitome of Safavid dynasty (1502-1722) bridge design. Esfahan, Iran.

The Story Bridge in Brisbane, Australia, built in 1940 with modern materials, is an example of a steel cantilever bridge.

A bridge is a structure built to span a gorge, valley, road, railroad track, river, body of water, or any other physical obstacle, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. Designs of bridges will vary depending on the function of the bridge and the nature of the terrain where the bridge is to be constructed. Look up bridge in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Image File history File links Sio_Se_Pol. ... Image File history File links Sio_Se_Pol. ... This article refers to the building structure component; for the fraternal organization, see Freemasonry. ... Zayandeh River as it passes under 33 pol in Isfahan. ... Safavid Empire at its Greatest Extent After Islamic Conquest  Modern SSR = Soviet Socialist Republic Afghanistan  Azerbaijan  Bahrain  Iran  Iraq  Tajikistan  Pakistan  This box:      The Safavids (Persian: ; Azerbaijani: ) were an Iranian[1] Shia dynasty of mixed Azeri[2] and Kurdish[3] origins, which ruled Persia from 1501/1502 to 1722. ... Naghsh-i Jahan Square, Esfahan. ... The Story Bridge is a cantilever bridge and the second crossing of the Brisbane River. ... For other uses, see Brisbane (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... For the dentistry term, see Bridge (dentistry). ... For other uses, see Structure (disambiguation). ... Span is a section between two intermediate supports of a bridge. ... A gorge is a narrow passage between steep mountains or hills. ... Fljótsdalur in East Iceland, a rather flat valley In geology, a valley (also called a vale or dale) is a depression with predominant extent in one direction. ... For other uses, see Road (disambiguation). ... Rail tracks. ... For other uses, see River (disambiguation). ... Lulworth Cove in Dorset, England (Great Britain) A fjord (Lysefjorden) in Norway River Gambia flowing through Niokolokoba National Park Port Jackson, Sydney, Australia A tide pool on Gabriola Island, British Columbia showing ochre sea stars A body of water is any significant accumulation of water such as an ocean, a...

History

A log bridge in the French Alps near Vallorcine.

An English 18th century example of a bridge in the Palladian style, with shops on the span: Pulteney Bridge, Bath

The first bridges were made by nature — as simple as a log fallen across a stream. The first bridges made by humans were probably spans of wooden logs or planks and eventually stones, using a simple support and crossbeam arrangement. Most of these early bridges could not support heavy weights or withstand strong currents. It was these inadequacies which led to the development of better bridges. Image File history File links own photo File links The following pages link to this file: Bridge Log bridge ... Image File history File links own photo File links The following pages link to this file: Bridge Log bridge ... This footbridge was made of trees from the surrounding forest. ... The French Alps are simply those parts of the Alps mountain range which lie in France. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 424 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2123 × 2999 pixel, file size: 3. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 424 × 599 pixelsFull resolution (2123 × 2999 pixel, file size: 3. ... A villa with a superimposed portico, from Book IV of Palladios I Quattro Libri dellArchitettura, in a modestly priced English translation published in London, 1736. ... Pulteney Bridge, Bath Pulteney Bridge is a bridge that crosses the River Avon, located in Bath, England and completed in 1773. ... , Bath is a small city in Somerset, England most famous for its historic baths fed by three hot springs. ... For other uses, see Log. ... This article is about the geological substance. ...

Epic literature of India provides mythological accounts of bridges constructed from India to Lanka by the army of Rama. ^[1][2] The Arthashastra of Kautilya mentions the construction of dams and bridges.^[3] A Mauryan bridge near Girnar was surveyed by James Princep.^[4] The bridge was swept away during a flood, and later repaired by Puspagupta, the chief architect of emperor Chandragupta I.^[4] The bridge also fell under the care of the Yavana Tushaspa, and the Satrap Rudra Daman.^[4] The use of stronger bridges using plaited bamboo and iron chain was visible in India by about the 4th century.^[5] A number of bridges, both for military and commercial purposes, were constructed by the Mughal administration in India.^[6] Lanka is the name given in Hindu mythology to the island fortress capital of the evil king Ravana in the epic Ramayana. ... This article is about the incarnation of Vishnu. ... The Arthashastra (more precisely Arthaśāstra) is a treatise on statecraft and economic policy which identifies its author by the names Kautilya[1] and Viṣṇugupta,[2] who are traditionally identified with the Mauryan minister Cāṇakya. ... Chanakya (c. ... The Mauryan empire (321 to 185 BCE), at its largest extent around 230 BCE. The Mauryan empire was Indias first great unified empire. ... Girnar (also known as Girnar Hill) is a collection of mountains in the Junagadh District of Gujarat, India. ... While his two ancestors were given the title of Maharaja, Chandra Gupta I is described in his inscriptions as Maharajadhiraj. ... Yona, Yonaka or Yavana is a Pali word used in ancient India to designate Greeks. ... Look up satrap in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Mughal Empire (alternative spelling Mogul, which is the origin of the word Mogul) of India was founded by Babur in 1526, when he defeated Ibrahim Lodi, the last of the Delhi Sultans at the First Battle of Panipat. ...

The ancient Romans built arch bridges and aqueducts that could stand in conditions that would damage or destroy earlier designs. Some of them still stand today. An example is the Alcántara Bridge, built over the river Tagus, in Spain. Most earlier bridges would have been swept away by the strong current. The Romans also used cement, which reduced the variation of strength found in natural stone. One type of cement, called pozzolana, consisted of water, lime, sand, and volcanic rock. Brick and mortar bridges were built after the Roman era, as the technology for cement was lost then later rediscovered. Ancient Rome was a civilization that grew from a small agricultural community founded on the Italian Peninsula circa the 9th century BC to a massive empire straddling the Mediterranean Sea. ... A stone double arch bridge near Locarno, Italy A small triple arch pedestrian bridge in Bourton-on-the-Water, England An arch bridge (sometimes deck arch bridge to distinguish it from a through arch bridge) is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. ... For other uses, see Aqueduct (disambiguation). ... Roman bridge of Alcántara For other uses, see Alcántara (disambiguation). ... The Tagus (Latin Tagus, Spanish Tajo, Portuguese Tejo, pron. ... For other uses, see Cement (disambiguation). ... Pozzolana is a fine sandy volcanic ash, originally discovered and dug at Pozzuoli in the region around Vesuvius, but later at a number of other sites. ... Ignimbrite is a deposit of a pyroclastic flow. ... For other uses, see Brick (disambiguation). ... Mortar holding weathered bricks. ...

Although large Chinese bridges of wooden construction existed at the time of the Warring States, the oldest surviving stone bridge in China is the Zhaozhou Bridge, built from 595 to 605 AD during the Sui Dynasty. This bridge is also historically significant as it is the world's oldest open-spandrel stone segmental arch bridge. European segmental arch bridges date back to at least the Alconétar Bridge (approximately 2nd century AD), while the enormous Roman era Trajan's Bridge (105 AD) featured open-spandrel segmental arches in wooden construction. Alternative meaning: Warring States Period (Japan) The Warring States Period (traditional Chinese: 戰國時代, simplified Chinese: 战国时代 pinyin Zhànguó Shídài) takes place from sometime in the 5th century BC to the unification of China by Qin in 221 BC. It is nominally considered to be the second part of the Eastern... The Zhaozhou Bridge (Chinese: 赵州桥; Pinyin: ) is the worlds oldest open-spandrel segmental arch bridge located in Hebei Province, China. ... The Sui Dynasty of China amongst the Asian, African, and European spheres of the world, 600 AD. The Sui Dynasty (Chinese: ; pinyin: ; 581-618 AD[1]) followed the Southern and Northern Dynasties and preceded the Tang Dynasty in China. ... A spandrel is originally a term from Architecture, but has more recently been given an analogous meaning in Evolutionary biology. ... The Alconétar bridge may be the oldest surviving Roman stone segmental arch bridge in the world, predating other examples such as the Zhaozhou Bridge in China and Ponte Vecchio in Europe. ... Drawings of the still-standing pillars Trajans Bridge was the first bridge built on the lower Danube river, east from the Iron Gates, near what is now the city of Drobeta-Turnu Severin, Romania and Kladovo, Serbia. ...

Rope bridges, a simple type of suspension bridge, were used by the Inca civilization in the Andes mountains of South America, just prior to European colonization in the 1500s. A bridge constructed chiefly of rope. ... For other meanings of Inca, see Inca (disambiguation). ... This article is about the mountain range in South America. ... South America South America is a continent crossed by the equator, with most of its area in the Southern Hemisphere. ...

During the 18th century there were many innovations in the design of timber bridges by Hans Ulrich, Johannes Grubenmann, and others. The first book on bridge engineering was written by Hubert Gautier in 1716. All Saints Chapel in the Cathedral Basilica of St. ... Timber in storage for later processing at a sawmill Timber is a term used to describe wood, either standing or that has been processed for use—from the time trees are felled, to its end product as a material suitable for industrial use—as structural material for construction or wood... Several members of the Swiss family Grubenmann were famous as joiners and civil engineers in the eighteenth century. ... Hubert Gautier ( August 21, 1660 - September 27, 1737 ) was a French Engineer. ...

With the Industrial Revolution in the 19th century, truss systems of wrought iron were developed for larger bridges, but iron did not have the tensile strength to support large loads. With the advent of steel, which has a high tensile strength, much larger bridges were built, many using the ideas of Gustave Eiffel. A Watt steam engine, the steam engine that propelled the Industrial Revolution in Britain and the world. ... Look up truss in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... A wrought iron railing in Troy, New York. ... General Name, symbol, number iron, Fe, 26 Chemical series transition metals Group, period, block 8, 4, d Appearance lustrous metallic with a grayish tinge Standard atomic weight 55. ... Tensile strength isthe measures the force required to pull something such as rope, wire, or a structural beam to the point where it breaks. ... For other uses, see Force (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Steel (disambiguation). ... Alexandre Gustave Eiffel (December 15, 1832 – December 27, 1923; French pronunciation in IPA, in English usually pronounced ) was a French structural engineer and architect and a specialist of metallic structures. ...

Etymology

The Oxford English Dictionary traces the origin of the word bridge to an Old English word brycg, of the same meaning, derived from a hypothetical Proto-Germanic root brugjō. There are cognates in other Germanic languages (for instance Brücke in German, brug in Dutch, brúgv in Faroese or bro in Danish, Norwegian and Swedish). The Oxford English Dictionary print set The Oxford English Dictionary (OED) is a dictionary published by the Oxford University Press (OUP), and is the most successful dictionary of the English language, (not to be confused with the one-volume Oxford Dictionary of English, formerly New Oxford Dictionary of English, of... Old English (also called Anglo-Saxon[1], Old English: ) is an early form of the English language that was spoken in parts of what is now England and southern Scotland between the mid-fifth century and the mid-twelfth century. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Look up cognate in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Germanic languages are a group of related languages constituting a branch of the Indo-European (IE) language family. ...

Another theory suggests that "bridge" comes from Turkish "köprü" (lit. bridge). It is highly possible that Turkish lent this word to Eastern European languages and then, in time, it arrived in English. "Köprü" itself is derived from "köprük (köpük)" which literally means "foam".

The word for the Pope, pontiff, comes from the Latin word pontifex meaning "bridge builder" or simply "builder". The word "Pope" however comes from "papa" meaning "father". For other uses, see Pope (disambiguation). ... Pontiff is a title of certain religious leaders, now used principally to refer to the Mercinary of the New Church. ... For other uses, see Latins and Latin (disambiguation). ...

Types of bridges

Charles Bridge in Prague

There are six main types of bridges: beam bridges, cantilever bridges, arch bridges, suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges and truss bridges. Charles Bridge photo taken Feb. ... Charles Bridge photo taken Feb. ... Charles Bridge and Prague Old Town Charles Bridge as viewed from Petřínská rozhledna - lookout tower Charles Bridge (Czech:  ) is a famous historical bridge that crosses the Vltava river in Prague, Czech Republic. ... For other uses, see Prague (disambiguation). ... A beam bridge is a direct descendant of the log bridge, now more normally made from shallow steel I beams, box girders, reinforced concrete, or post-tensioned concrete. ... For the dentistry term, see Bridge (dentistry). ... An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. ... A suspension bridge is a type of bridge where the main load-bearing elements are hung from suspension cables. ... A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns (normally referred to as towers or pylons), with cables supporting the bridge deck. ... A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements (typically straight) which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. ...

Beam bridges

Beam bridges are horizontal beams supported at each end by piers. The earliest beam bridges were simple logs that sat across streams and similar simple structures. In modern times, beam bridges are large box steel girder bridges. Weight on top of the beam pushes straight down on the piers at either end of the bridge. ^[7] A beam bridge is a direct descendant of the log bridge, now more normally made from shallow steel I beams, box girders, reinforced concrete, or post-tensioned concrete. ...

Cantilever bridges

Cantilever bridges are built using cantilevers — horizontal beams that are supported on only one end. Most cantilever bridges use two cantilever arms extending from opposite sides of the obstacle to be crossed, meeting at the center. The largest cantilever bridge is the 549-ft. Quebec Bridge in Quebec, Canada.^[8] For the dentistry term, see Bridge (dentistry). ...

Arch bridges

Arch bridges are arch-shaped and have abutments at each end. The earliest known arch bridges were built by the Greeks and include the Arkadiko Bridge. The weight of the bridge is thrusted into the abutments at either side. Dubai in the United Arab Emirates is currently building the largest arch bridge in the world, which is scheduled for completion in 2012.^[9] An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. ...

Suspension bridges

Suspension bridges are suspended from cables. The earliest suspension bridges were made of ropes or vines covered with pieces of bamboo. In modern bridges, the cables hang from towers that are attached to caissons or cofferdams. The caissons or cofferdams are implanted deep into the floor of a lake or river. The longest suspension bridge in the world is the 12,826-ft. Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan.^[10] A suspension bridge is a type of bridge where the main load-bearing elements are hung from suspension cables. ... Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge Akashi_Kaikyo Bridge on April 27, 2003. ...

Cable-stayed bridges

Like suspension bridges, cable-stayed bridges are held up by cables. However, in a cable-stayed bridge, less cable is required and the towers holding the cables are proportionately shorter. ^[11] The first known cable-stayed bridge was designed in 1784 by C.T. Loescher.^[12] The longest cable-stayed bridge is the Tatara Bridge in the Seto Inland Sea, Japan. A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns (normally referred to as towers or pylons), with cables supporting the bridge deck. ... The Tatara Bridge (Tatara Ōhashi; 多々羅大橋) is a cable-stayed bridge that is part of the Nishiseto Expressway (Commonly known as the Shimanami Kaido しまなみ海道). The bridge has a center span of 890 meters (2,290 feet). ...

Truss bridges

Truss bridges are composed of connected elements. They have a solid deck and a lattice of pin-jointed girders for the sides. Early truss bridges were made of wood, but modern truss bridges are made of metals such as wrought iron and steel. The Quebec Bridge, mentioned above as a cantilever bridge, is also the world's longest truss bridge.^[13] A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements (typically straight) which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. ... The Quebec Bridge (Pont de Québec in French) in Canada crosses the lower Saint Lawrence River to the west of Quebec City, and Lévis, Quebec. ...

By use

A bridge is designed for trains, pedestrian or road traffic, a pipeline or waterway for water transport or barge traffic. An aqueduct is a bridge that carries water, resembling a viaduct, which is a bridge that connects points of equal height. A road-rail bridge carries both road and rail traffic. For other uses, see Train (disambiguation). ... Look up Pedestrian in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... For other uses, see Road (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Aqueduct (disambiguation). ... Torontos Bloor Street Viaduct bridges the Don valley; road traffic uses the upper deck, rail traffic uses the lower deck. ... Road-rail bridges are bridges shared by road and rail lines, as an economy measure compared to providing separate bridges. ...

Bridges are subject to unplanned uses as well. The areas underneath some bridges have become makeshift shelters and homes to homeless people, and the undersides of bridges all around the world are spots of prevalent graffiti. Some bridges attract people attempting suicide, and become known as suicide bridges. A homeless man pushes a cart down the street. ... For other uses, see Graffiti (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Suicide (disambiguation). ... As a suicide prevention initiative, this sign on the Golden Gate Bridge promotes a special telephone that connects to a crisis hotline. ...

Decorative or ceremonial

To create a beautiful image, some bridges are built much taller than necessary. This type, often found in east-Asian style gardens, is called a Moon bridge, evoking a rising full moon. Other garden bridges may cross only a dry bed of stream washed pebbles, intended only to convey an impression of a stream. Often in palaces a bridge will be built over an artificial waterway as symbolic of a passage to an important place or state of mind. A set of five bridges cross a sinuous waterway in an important courtyard of the Forbidden City in Beijing, the People's Republic of China. The central bridge was reserved exclusively for the use of the Emperor, Empress, and their attendants. A decorative bridge in the Japanese tea garden at Golden Gate Park. ... For other uses, see Forbidden City (disambiguation). ... Peking redirects here. ...

The differences & similarities in bridge structure

A bridge taxonomy showing evolutionary relationships

Bridges may be classified by how the forces of tension, compression, bending, torsion and shear are distributed through their structure. Most bridges will employ all of the principal forces to some degree, but only a few will predominate. The separation of forces may be quite clear. In a suspension or cable-stayed span, the elements in tension are distinct in shape and placement. In other cases the forces may be distributed among a large number of members, as in a truss, or not clearly discernible to a casual observer as in a box beam. Bridges can also be classified by their lineage, which is shown as the vertical axis on the diagram to the right. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (558x729, 29 KB)Bridge taxonomy in B/W with bold text File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (558x729, 29 KB)Bridge taxonomy in B/W with bold text File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Tension is a reaction force applied by a stretched string (rope or a similar object) on the objects which stretch it. ... Physical compression is the result of the subjection of a material to compressive stress, resulting in reduction of volume. ... Figure 1. ... // Mathmatics In mathematics, the term torsion has several meanings, mostly unrelated to each other. ... Shear stress is a stress state where the stress is parallel or tangential to a face of the material, as opposed to normal stress when the stress is perpendicular to the face. ...

Efficiency

A bridge's structural efficiency may be considered to be the ratio of load carried to bridge mass, given a specific set of material types. In one common challenge students are divided into groups and given a quantity of wood sticks, a distance to span, and glue, and then asked to construct a bridge that will be tested to destruction by the progressive addition of load at the center of the span. The bridge taking the greatest load is by this test the most structurally efficient. A more refined measure for this exercise is to weigh the completed bridge rather than measure against a fixed quantity of materials provided and determine the multiple of this weight that the bridge can carry, a test that emphasizes economy of materials and efficient glue joints (see balsa wood bridge). A balsawood bridge being tested by loading weight into a metal trash can that is suspended from the bridges roadway. ...

A bridge's economic efficiency will be site and traffic dependent, the ratio of savings by having a bridge (instead of, for example, a ferry, or a longer road route) compared to its cost. The lifetime cost is composed of materials, labor, machinery, engineering, cost of money, insurance, maintenance, refurbishment, and ultimately, demolition and associated disposal, recycling, and replacement, less the value of scrap and reuse of components. Bridges employing only compression are relatively inefficient structurally, but may be highly cost efficient where suitable materials are available near the site and the cost of labor is low. For medium spans, trusses or box beams are usually most economical, while in some cases, the appearance of the bridge may be more important than its cost efficiency. The longest spans usually require suspension bridges.

Double-decker bridge

"Metrobridge" Vorobyovy Gory (ru:Метромост) double-deck bridge in Moscow carries the Moscow Metro.

Double-decker bridges have two levels, such as the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, with two road levels. Tsing Ma Bridge and Kap Shui Mun Bridge in Hong Kong have six lanes on their upper decks, and on their lower decks there are two lanes and a pair of tracks for MTR metro trains. Some double-decker bridges only use one level for street traffic; the Washington Avenue Bridge in Minneapolis reserves its lower level for automobile traffic and its upper level for pedestrian and bicycle traffic (predominantly students at the University of Minnesota). Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 1275 KB) Original uploaded in Russian Wikipedia at Станция метро Воробьевы горы, ночь 2006. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2592x1944, 1275 KB) Original uploaded in Russian Wikipedia at Станция метро Воробьевы горы, ночь 2006. ... edit Vorobyovy Gory (Russian: ) is a station on the Sokolnicheskaya Line of the Moscow Metro. ... For other uses, see Moscow (disambiguation). ... Moscow Metro (Russian: ), which spans almost the entire Russian capital, is one of the worlds most heavily used metro systems. ... The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge ( ; known locally as the Bay Bridge) is a toll bridge which spans San Francisco Bay and links the California cities of Oakland and San Francisco in the United States, as part of Interstate 80. ... For other uses, see Road (disambiguation). ... Tsing Ma Bridge (青馬大橋) by night Tsing Ma Bridge (Chinese: 青馬大橋; Cantonese: cing1 maa5 daai6 kiu4; Mandarin: Qīngmǎ dàqiáo) (named after two islands of Tsing Yi (青衣島) and Ma Wan (馬灣) in Cantonese), of Hong Kong is the worlds sixth largest suspension bridge (22° 21N, 114° 04 E). ... The Kap Shui Mun Bridge (KSMB)in Hong Kong is the worlds longest cable-stayed bridge carrying both road and railway traffic, with the upper deck for motor vehicles, and the lower deck for both vehicles and the MTR. It has a main span of 430 metres and an... This article is about the metro system in Hong Kong. ... The Washington Avenue Bridge crosses the Mississippi River in Minneapolis, Minnesota and connects the East Bank and West Bank portions of the University of Minnesotas main campus. ... Minneapolis redirects here. ... This article is about the oldest and largest campus of the University of Minnesota. ...

Robert Stephenson's High Level Bridge across the River Tyne in Newcastle upon Tyne, completed in 1849, is an early example of a double-deck bridge. The upper level carries a railway, and the lower level is used for road traffic. Statue of Robert Stephenson at Euston Station, London Robert Stephenson FRS (October 16, 1803–October 12, 1859) was an English civil engineer. ... The High Level Bridge, towering above the Swing Bridge across the River Tyne; photograph facing Newcastle The High Level Bridge is a notable road and railway bridge spanning the River Tyne between Newcastle upon Tyne and Gateshead, in North East England. ... The Tyne looking west and upstream from the Newcastle bank towards the Gateshead Millennium Bridge The Tyne Bridge across the River Tyne between Newcastle and Gateshead. ... This article is about a city in the United Kingdom. ...

Another example is Craigavon Bridge in Derry, Northern Ireland. The Oresund Bridge between Copenhagen and Malmö consists of a four-lane highway on the upper level and a pair of railway tracks at the lower level. The Craigavon Bridge in 2005. ... For other places with similar names, see Derry (disambiguation) and Londonderry (disambiguation). ... Northern Ireland (Irish: , Ulster Scots: Norlin Airlann) is a constituent country of the United Kingdom lying in the northeast of the island of Ireland, covering 5,459 square miles (14,139 km², about a sixth of the islands total area). ... The Oresund Bridge (Danish Øresundsbroen, Swedish Öresundsbron, joint hybrid name Øresundsbron) is a combined two-track rail and four-lane road bridge across the Oresund strait. ... For other uses, see Copenhagen (disambiguation). ... Motto: FrÃ¥n arbetarstad till kunskapsstad (eng: From industrial city to knowledge city) Location of Malmö in northern Europe Coordinates: , Country  Sweden Municipality Malmö Municipality County SkÃ¥ne County Province Scania (SkÃ¥ne) Charter 13th century Government  - Mayor Illmar Reepalu Area  - City 335. ...

The George Washington Bridge between New Jersey and New York has two roadway levels. It was built with only the upper roadway as traffic demands did not require more capacity. A truss work between the roadway levels provides stiffness to the roadways and reduced movement of the upper level when installed. For the bridge in New York that crosses the Harlem River, see Washington Bridge. ... Look up truss in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ...

More than just a bridge

Aracaju-Barra Bridge in Sergipe state, Brazil.

• Some bridges carry special installations such as the tower of Nový Most bridge in Bratislava which carries a restaurant. On other suspension bridge towers transmission antennas are installed.

• A bridge can carry overhead power lines as does the Storstrøm Bridge.

• Costs and cost overruns in bridge construction have been studied by Flyvbjerg et al. (2003). The average cost overrun in building a bridge was found to be 34%.^[14]

Flag of Sergipe See other Brazilian States Capital Aracaju Largest City Aracaju Area 21,994 km² Population   - Total   - Density 1. ... The Nový Most (New Bridge; formerly Most SNP - Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising) in Bratislava is a road bridge over the Danube in the capital of Slovakia. ... , Nickname: Beauty on the Danube Country  Slovakia Region Districts Rivers Elevation 134 m (440 ft) Coordinates , Highest point Devínska Kobyla  - elevation 514 m (1,686 ft) Lowest point Danube River  - elevation 126 m (413 ft) Area 367. ... Storstrøm Bridge viewed from Masnedø Storstrøm Bridge (Danish, Storstrømsbroen) is a road and railway arch bridge that crosses Storstrømmen between the islands of Falster and Masnedø in Denmark. ... Cost overrun is defined as excess of actual cost over budget. ...

Visual index

Index to types

Arch bridge	Beam bridge	Box girder bridge	Cable-stayed bridge
Cantilever bridge	Cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge	Clapper bridge	Compression arch suspended-deck bridge
Girder bridge	Log bridge	Moveable bridge	Plate girder bridge
Pontoon bridge	Segmental bridge	Self-anchored suspension bridge	Side-spar cable-stayed bridge
Simple suspension bridge	Step-stone bridge	Stressed ribbon bridge	Suspension bridge
Transporter bridge	Trestle	Truss arch bridge	Truss bridge
Tubular bridge	Covered bridge

Image File history File links Metadata No higher resolution available. ... An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. ... Photo by Quadell File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A beam bridge is a direct descendant of the log bridge, now more normally made from shallow steel I beams, box girders, reinforced concrete, or post-tensioned concrete. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1600x1200, 223 KB) File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... A box girder bridge is a bridge commonly used for roadway flyovers and for modern elevated structures of light rail transport. ... Cable stayed bridge over the Chang Jiang (Yangtze) river at the downstream approach to the Gezhouba Dam locks. ... A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns (normally referred to as towers or pylons), with cables supporting the bridge deck. ... Forth Bridge, Firth of Forth, Edinburgh - a photo taken by myself and in the public domain. ... For the dentistry term, see Bridge (dentistry). ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1800x1196, 463 KB) es: Puente del Alamillo en Sevilla en: Alamillos bridge (Seville) From the Seville Tourism Bureau. ... A cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge is a modern variation of the cable-stayed bridge. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2048x1536, 1111 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bridge Clapper bridge Tarr Steps Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... A Clapper bridge is an ancient form of bridge found on the moors of Devon (Dartmoor and Exmoor) in the United Kingdom. ... Sydney Harbor Bridge, made when i was travelling in Australia in August 2002 . ... The Tyne Bridge, in green, with many of the Tynes other bridges pictured behind it. ... Image File history File linksMetadata GirderBridge2. ... A girder bridge, in general, is a bridge built of girders placed on bridge abutments and foundation piers. ... Image File history File links own photo File links The following pages link to this file: Bridge Log bridge ... This footbridge was made of trees from the surrounding forest. ... Image File history File links Clip of Image:Salmon Bay Bridge-2. ... A moveable bridge is a bridge that moves to allow passage for (usually) boats or barges. ... Plate girder bridge of the under track kind. ... A plate girder bridge is a bridge often seen supporting railroad roadbeds over short spans. ... Image File history File links Size of this preview: 771 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1500 × 1167 pixel, file size: 208 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) File historyClick on a date/time to view the file as it appeared at that time. ... Pontoon bridge across the James River at Richmond, Virginia, 1865. ... Image File history File links SegmentalBridgeFtLauderdale. ... As its name implies, a segmental bridge is a bridge built in short sections (called segments), i. ... San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge eastern span, 378x195 pixels - excerpt from page with original planned replacement construction. ... A self-anchored suspension bridge is a type of bridge combining elements of a suspended-deck suspension bridge and a cable-stayed bridge. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (976x656, 156 KB)Esplanade Reil, a Side-spar cable-stayed bridge in Winnipeg, Manitoba. ... A side-spar cable-stayed bridge is an otherwise conventional cable-stayed bridge but its cable support does not span the roadway, rather being cantilevered from one side. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1800x1100, 423 KB)Capilano Bridge, North Vancouver, British Columbia. ... A simple suspension bridge is an early bridge type and is still formed from native materials, chiefly grass rope, in some areas of South America. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2137x1535, 1193 KB)A garden path bridge in the Tea Garden of San Franciscos Golden Gate Park. ... A step-stone bridge is a simple means for a pedestrian to cross a watercourse during periods of low flow while keeping feet and (particularly) footwear dry. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1024x768, 549 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Bridge Suspension bridge types Stressed ribbon bridge Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital... A stressed ribbon bridge is a tension structure (similar in many ways to a simple suspension bridge) in which the roadway follows a catenary arc between supports. ... Clifton Suspension Bridge over the River Avon in Bristol, England. ... A suspension bridge is a type of bridge where the main load-bearing elements are hung from suspension cables. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 532 pixel Image in higher resolution (3008 × 2000 pixel, file size: 2. ... The Newport Transporter Bridge A transporter bridge (also ferry bridge or aerial transfer bridge) is a type of movable bridge that carries a segment of roadway across a river. ... Alhambra creek railway trestle, Martinez, California. ... Steel trestle with plate girder spans A trestle is a bridge that consists of a large number of short spans, supported by splayed vertical elements and is usually for railroad use. ... Download high resolution version (513x768, 421 KB) A Canadian Pacific Railway freight eastbound over the Stoney Creek Bridge. ... A truss arch bridge combines elements of a truss and an arch. ... Image File history File linksMetadata LittleManateeRiver. ... A truss bridge is a bridge composed of connected elements (typically straight) which may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. ... Download high resolution version (1500x1242, 108 KB)Personal photograph taken by Mick Knapton on 12th June 2004 File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... Section of the original wrought-iron tubular Britannia Bridge standing in front of the modern bridge A tubular bridge is a bridge built as a rigid box section within which the traffic is carried. ... Description: Photograph of covered bridge in Guilford, Vermont Source: Photograph taken by Jared C. Benedict on 20 August 2004. ... A covered bridge is a bridge, often single-lane, with enclosed sides and a roof. ...

Index to related topics

Aqueduct	Bailey bridge	Balsa wood bridge breaking under load	Bridge of boats
Bridges in art	Brown truss	Burr Arch Truss	Caisson
Covered bridge	Eyebar	Hoogholtje bridge	Inca rope bridge
Jetway	Lattice girder (laced strut or tie)	Lattice truss (Town's lattice truss)	Medium Girder Bridge
Moon bridge	Packhorse bridge	Toll bridge	Water bridge
Weigh bridge	Viaduct	Wooden bridge

Pont du Gard, France Image by ChrisO File history Legend: (cur) = this is the current file, (del) = delete this old version, (rev) = revert to this old version. ... For other uses, see Aqueduct (disambiguation). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixelsFull resolution (1024 × 768 pixel, file size: 585 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Pont Bailey (Bailey bridge) Localisation : Saint-Dié-des-Vosges (France) Construction vers 1970 Photographie personnelle, prise le 24/08/2003. ... This article is about the portable prefabricated bridge. ... Image File history File linksMetadata BalsaBridge_Break. ... A balsawood bridge being tested by loading weight into a metal trash can that is suspended from the bridges roadway. ... Image File history File links WWI_bridge_of_boats_Scheldt. ... A bridge of boats over the Scheldt River, during World War I A bridge of boats over the Ravi River in Pakistan, 1895 A bridge of boats is a temporary type of bridge which floats on the river instead of having permanent pillars. ... Image File history File links Claude_Monet-Waterlilies. ... Rendering of proposed new span for San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge Water Lily Pond, painted 1899. ... Image File history File links Download high-resolution version (1200x360, 14 KB) This is a temporary standin, I hope to make an inkscape based svg with a separate annotation layer when I get a chance. ... Diagram, white members are tension (may not be present), grey members are compression A Brown truss is a type of bridge truss, used in covered bridges. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (3008x2000, 2658 KB) Source Own Picture Date Sunday, July 9, 2006 Author Photo by and (c)2006 Derek Ramsey (Ram-Man) Permission You may NOT use this image on your own web site or anywhere else unless you release this image... The Burr Arch Truss or simply Burr Truss is a combination of arch and truss design, invented by Theodore Burr, patented in 1817, and used in bridges, usually covered bridges. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... In geotechnical engineering, a caisson is a retaining, watertight structure used, for example, to work on the foundations of a bridge pier, for the construction of a concrete dam, or for the repair of ships. ... Description: Photograph of covered bridge in Guilford, Vermont Source: Photograph taken by Jared C. Benedict on 20 August 2004. ... A covered bridge is a bridge, often single-lane, with enclosed sides and a roof. ... ImageMetadata File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1392 KB) Eyebar detail. ... In this light truss bridge each side truss has sixteen elements. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Size of this preview: 800 × 600 pixel Image in higher resolution (1600 × 1200 pixel, file size: 1,002 KB, MIME type: image/jpeg) Typical Bridge in the province of Groningen, The Netherlands. ... Hoogholtje bridge in Pieterburen, Province of Groningen in The Netherlands A Hoogholtje bridge is a typical footbridge used mainly in the province of Groningen, The netherlands. ... Image File history File links Photo courtesy of Rutahsa Adventures www. ... Inca rope bridges were simple suspension bridges over canyons and gorges (pongos) to provide access for the Inca Empire. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1284 KB)Jetway, a type of movable bridge, used for passenger loading at larger airports. ... Jetway is the registered trademark of FMC Technologies, Inc. ... Image File history File links Detail of eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge showing obsolete lattice beams. ... // This example shows laced struts and ties A lattice girder is a girder where the flanges are connected by a lattice web [1]. This type of design has been supplanted in modern construction with welded or bolted plate girders, which use more material but have lower fabrication costs. ... Description: Photograph of covered bridge interior structure in Guilford, Vermont Source: Photograph taken by Jared C. Benedict on 20 August 2004. ... A lattice bridge is a form of truss bridge that uses a large number of small and closely spaced diagonal elements that form a lattice. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (1184x888, 303 KB) Summary A 16 Bay with Link Medium Girder Bridge across the Kazer River, Mosul, Iraq, 2003. ... A 16-Bay with LRS Medium Girder Bridge across the Kazer River, Mosul, Iraq, 2003. ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1540x1335, 663 KB)A moon bridge of wood, with ladder-like ascent and descent here is a decorative feature of San Franciscos Japanese Tea Garden. ... A decorative bridge in the Japanese tea garden at Golden Gate Park. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (429x643, 106 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Marsden, West Yorkshire Packhorse bridge Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... A packhorse bridge is typically very narrow and was only designed to take a horse (often loaded with sidebags or panniers) across a waterway. ... Download high resolution version (1357x1448, 132 KB)Paying Toll on passing a Bridge. ... Paying toll on passing a bridge. ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2288x1712, 1205 KB) The Dundas Aqueduct on the Kennet and Avon Canal, Limpley Stoke, near Bath, England. ... For other uses, see Aqueduct (disambiguation). ... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high resolution version (2048x1536, 1404 KB)A weigh bridge. ... A weigh bridge at a gravel pit. ... Bloor Viaduct, Toronto. ... Torontos Bloor Street Viaduct bridges the Don valley; road traffic uses the upper deck, rail traffic uses the lower deck. ...

Politics

Most bridges are built for economic reasons, meaning they are cost justified. As the size and cost go up it becomes more difficult to cost justify bridges. Some of the largest and most costly bridges in the world are built for political reasons, namely to tie together otherwise isolated areas.^{[citation needed]}

See also

• Architectural structure
• Landscape architecture

An architectural structure is a free-standing or guy anchored manmade outdoor construction for permanent use. ... Central Park, like most city parks, is an example of landscape architecture. ...

References

This article needs additional citations for verification. Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (September 2007)

2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2007 (MMVII) was a common year starting on Monday of the Gregorian calendar in the 21st century. ... is the 38th day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... 2008 (MMVIII) is the current year, a leap year that started on Tuesday of the Anno Domini (or common era), in accordance with the Gregorian calendar. ... is the 134th day of the year (135th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

General references

• Brown, David J. Bridges: Three Thousand Years of Defying Nature. Richmond Hill, Ont: Firefly Books, 2005. ISBN 1-55407-099-6.
• Sandak, Cass R. Bridges. An Easy-read modern wonders book. New York: F. Watts, 1983. ISBN 0-531-04624-9.
• Whitney, Charles S. Bridges of the World: Their Design and Construction. Mineola, NY: Dover Publications, 2003. ISBN 0-486-42995-4.

Unabridged republication of Bridges : a study in their art, science, and evolution. 1929.

• Dikshitar, V. R. R. Dikshitar (1993). The Mauryan Polity. Motilal Banarsidass. ISBN 8120810236.
• Dutt, Romesh Chunder (2000). A History of Civilisation in Ancient India: Vol II. Routledge. ISBN 0415231884.
• Nath, R. (1982). History of Mughal Architecture. Abhinav Publications. ISBN 8170171598.
• Kinney, A. R.; el al. (2003). Worshiping Siva and Buddha: The Temple Art of East Java. University of Hawaii Press. ISBN 0824827791.
• Buck, William; el al. (2000). Ramayana. University of California Press. ISBN 0520227034

External links

Wikisource has the text of the 1911 Encyclopædia Britannica article Bridges.

Find more about Bridge on Wikipedia's sister projects:
	Dictionary definitions
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	Learning resources

• [1]A Bath, UK Stonemasons account of conserving a medieval bridge.
• Digital Bridge: Bridges of the Nineteenth Century, a collection of digitized books at Lehigh University
• Structurae - International Database and Gallery of Engineerings Structures with over 10000 Bridges.
• U.S. Federal Highway Administration Bridge Technology
• Descriptions and photographs of five bridge disasters
• Bridge enthusiast site
• Interesting Flexible Arch Bridge design
• Video on how bridges are made (Grade school level educational film by National Association of Manufactures.) Caution: Other links on this page may lead to politically biased material.

v • d • e Bridge-related articles Types of bridges Moveable bridge · Beam bridge · Cantilever bridge · Arch bridge · Suspension bridge · Cable-stayed bridge · Truss bridge · Visual index to various types Lists of Bridges Notable bridges · By length · Longest suspension bridge spans · Largest cable-stayed bridges · Longest cantilever bridges · Arch bridges · Tallest · Bridge disasters