APPROPRIATE

BRIDGE
LOCATION
Site Inspection and Selection
- most economical crossing consistent with certain standards
of quality as regards maintenance and operating conditions
- however, it frequently does not happen. Particular
locations does not combine advantageously with the ideal.
Some sacrifices in the selection of bridge crossing have to be
done.

safer location

ideal location
Factors considered in a merit of a location:
• cost
• maintenance
• operation

safer location

ideal location
Location of Minor Structures:
1. Location of a bridge is generally of secondary
importance to the location of the highway alignment.
2. Replacement of an old or inadequate structure on
existing alignment, careful consideration should be
given to the possibility of an improved location.
Location of Large Structures:
1. Location of a bridge becomes increasingly important and in
most cases becomes the deciding factor in the general location
of a particular route.
2. For new roads, the engineer will make an approximate
location. When this approximate location is fixed, there must be
a complete and extensive report and special surveys of the site.
Geological Conditions:
1. Exposed rock at the water’s edge, even if both banks of the
stream disclose rock at the formation, does not always indicate
the presence of rock bottom across the channel.
2. For mountainous regions, where a stream during a former
geologic period has cut a deep gorge which during a
subsequent period has been filled with lava flow.
3. It might be easily be possible to mistake the overhanging
edge of the buried channel for solid rock bottom and to form
the opinion that this formation extended clear across the
stream.
SCOURING
Largest items of maintenance cost for bridges is the protection of
footings against scour, or the repair of damage already done by
erosion.

Scouring is expected from the following:

1. Wherever there are irregularities in the stream bed profile and the
bed is of erodable material.
2. When an artificial article such as drift deflects flood currents
downward against the footing.
3. When the bottom, for a considerable distance below the surface is
very soft, or, in case harder bottoms, when the stream carries large
quantity of sediment which acts as an abrasion.
4. Where there is a soft bottom and the depth at flood stage is great in
proportion to the normal depth.
5. Where there is a constriction in the waterway together with a bottom
of erodable material the power of a stream to erode.