Components of a bridge

The main parts of a bridge structure are,

(a) Decking, consisting of deck slab, girders, trusses, handrails, parapets, guard stones etc.,
(b) Bearings for the decking,
(c) Abutments, wing walls and piers,
(d) Foundations for the abutments and the piers,
(e) River training works, like revetment for slopes for embankment at abutments and
(f) Approaches to the bridge to connect the bridge proper to the roads on either side.

The components above the level of bearings are grouped as superstructure, while the parts below the
bearing level and above the foundation are classed as substructure. The portion below the bed level of
the river is called the foundation.

Post Railing Guard Rail

Earth
fill Approach
Bearing Deck slab

Pier Shelf
Abutment
Water level

Bed level
of River Foundation
Classification

Bridges can be classified in many ways as below:

(a) According to function as aqueduct, viaduct, pedestrian, highway, railway, road cum railway
bridge
(b) According to the material of construction of superstructure as timber, masonry, steel,
reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete, composite bridge
(c) According to the form or type of superstructure as slab, girder, truss, arch (flooring supported
over steel truss), cable stayed or suspension bridge (one or more tower, from which cables
support the bridge deck)
(d) According to the inter-span relations as simple, continuous or cantilever bridge (built using
cantilevers that project horizontally into space supported on one end only)
(e) According to the position of the bridge floor relative to the superstructure as deck, through
(deck at the bottom of the superstructure), half through (deck at the intermediate level of the
superstructure)and suspended bridges
(f) According to the road level relative to the highest flood level of the river below, particularly for
the highway bridge, as high level (high level of bridge to allow waterborne traffic)or
submersible bridge (allows the waterborne traffic above the bridge)
(g) According to the method of clearance for navigation as high-level, movable-bascule (London
bridge), movable swing (water body part swings 90 degrees) or vertical lift type of bridge (water
body part span lifts vertically up)
(h) According to the length of the bridge as culvert (less than 6 m), minor bridge (6 m to 60 m),
major bridge (above 60 m), or long span bridge when the main span of the major bridge is above
120 m.
(i) According to the degree of redundancy as determinate or indeterminate bridge
(j) According to the anticipated type of service and duration of use as permanent, temporary,
military bridge
(k) According to the alignment of the super structure with the formation of the river or gorge as
straight bridge or skew bridge.