TYPES OF BRIDGES

An ARCH BRIDGE is a type of bridge characterized by a curved, semicircular structure (the arch) that
spans a gap or obstacle. The arch shape distributes weight and forces evenly, allowing the bridge to
support heavy loads. This design has been used for centuries and is known for its strength and stability.

Examples:

PUENTE DE MALAGONLONG (PHILIPPINES)

Considered one of this city’s most important heritage sites, Malagonlong Bridge is now closed to traffic
after the new bridge across the Dumacaa river was completed. Among the eleven (11) stone masonry
bridges found in Tayabas City, Malogonlong Bridge is one of the oldest and longest stone arched bridges.
The bridge was built under the direction of the “Ministro del Pueblo,” Fray Antonio, a Franciscan priest,
between 1840 to 1850.

NEW RIVER GORGE BRIDGE (West Virginia, U.S.)

New River Gorge Bridge's arch made it the longest steel arch bridge in the world, a title it held until 2003
with the construction of China’s Shanghai’s Lupu Bridge. It is currently the longest single-span steel arch
bridge in the United States and the third highest bridge in the country. Though the bridge itself employs
a fairly conventional design, its construction represents a number of construction achievements.
A

TIED ARCH BRIDGE is a type of bridge characterized by an arch-shaped structure with vertical supports
that are connected by diagonal members, forming a "bowstring" appearance. This design provides
stability and allows the bridge to span longer distances than traditional arch bridges. The tied arch
bridge is known for its aesthetic appeal and structural efficiency.

Examples:

THE BINONDO–INTRAMUROS BRIDGE (PHILIPPINES)

The Binondo–Intramuros Bridge is a tied-arch bridge in Manila, Philippines that spans the Pasig River. It
connects Muelle de Binondo in Binondo and in San Nicolas to Solana Street and Riverside Drive in
Intramuros.
BUGRINSKY BRIDGE (RUSSIA)

The Bugrinsky Bridge is a road bridge over the Ob River in Novosibirsk, Russia. The construction of the
bridge began in February 2010 and finished in October 2014. It is the third automobile bridge over the
Ob River in the city of Novosibirsk.

A CANTILEVER BRIDGE is a type of bridge supported primarily on one end, with the other end extending
freely into space. It achieves stability through a horizontal beam (known as a cantilever) anchored at one
end and balanced by counterweights or supports. This design allows the bridge to span long distances
and is commonly used in situations where there are significant obstacles, such as deep bodies of water
or wide canyons.

Examples:

FORTH BRIDGE (UNITED KINGDOM)

The Forth Bridge is a cantilever railway bridge across the Firth of Forth in the east of Scotland, 9 miles
west of central Edinburgh. Completed in 1890, it is considered a symbol of Scotland, and is a UNESCO
World Heritage Site. It was designed by English engineers
A TRUSS BRIDGES are characterized by the joining of numerous relatively small structural members into
a series of interconnected triangles. They were first built of wood, then iron, then steel or occasionally a
combination of the materials.

Examples:

SAN JUANICO BRIDGE (PHILIPPINES)

The San Juanico Bridge, is an arch-shaped Truss bridge in the Philippines stretching from Samar to Leyte
crossing the San Juanico Strait. It is part of the Pan-Philippine Highway. It is the longest bridge in the
Philippines spanning a body of water with a length of 2.16 kilometers
UPPER SLATE RUN BRIDGE (PENNSYLVANIA)

Noted for lenticular truss bridges and the occasional small-scale suspension bridge, this was not a typical
bridge for the company to build. Its all-riveted construction was rare in America at this date of
construction as well. It is among the oldest rivet-connected highway truss bridges in Pennsylvania. This
bridge retains the beautiful portal bracing ornamentation and builder plaques. Berlin Iron Bridge
Company almost always included ornamentation on its bridges, even those in rural locations.

A BEAM BRIDGE is a simple type of bridge consisting of a horizontal beam (or several parallel beams)
supported by piers or abutments at each end. It is one of the oldest and most basic bridge designs,
suitable for spanning short to moderate distances. Beam bridges are commonly found in various forms
worldwide, and they are often used for roadways, pedestrian walkways, and small water crossings.

Examples:

AGAS-AGAS BRIDGE(PHILIPPINES)

Agas-Agas Bridge in Brgy. Kahupian, Sogod, Southern Leyte is the tallest bridge in the Philippines. It is a
prestressed concrete beam bridge on the Pan-Philippine Highway. The ₱1.024-billion bridge was funded
partially by the Japan International Cooperation Agency. It was built to avoid the perennial landslide
dangers in the area during heavy rains.
TIANJIN GRAND BRIDGE (CHINA)

The Tianjin Grand Bridge measures an incredible 70.6 miles in total and is one of the longest bridges in
the world that carries the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway.

A SUSPENSION BRIDGE is a type of bridge characterized by a main span supported by cables anchored
at each end. These cables are typically draped over towers and secured to massive anchorages. This
design allows suspension bridges to span long distances, making them suitable for crossings over deep
water or wide gaps. They are known for their distinctive "hanging" appearance.

Examples:
CLIFTON SUSPENSION BRIDGE (UNITED KINGDOM)

Spanning the Avon Gorge, and the River Avon, the Clifton Suspension Bridge links Clifton in Bristol to
Leigh Woods in North Somerset. Open back in 1864 the tolls gathered on the bridge have contributed to
maintenance costs. The original idea was discussed as far back as 1753 although it took more than a
hundred years for the suspension bridge to eventually get built.

SABNANGAN FOOTBRIDGE (PHILIPPINES)

The Sabnangan Footbridge, located in the municipality of Luba in Abra, Philippines, is said to be the
longest suspension bridge in Southeast Asia. The bridge, which was constructed in 2002, is made entirely
of steel and has a span of 560 meters. It connects two barangays of the municipality, Barangay
Poblacion and Sabnangan.
A CABLE-STAYED BRIDGE is a type of bridge in which the main span is supported by cables that are
attached directly to towers. Unlike suspension bridges, where the cables hang freely, in cable-stayed
bridges, the cables run directly from the towers to the bridge deck. This design provides stability and
allows for the construction of longer spans, making cable-stayed bridges suitable for spanning medium
to long distances.

Examples:

DIOSDADO MACAPAGAL BRIDGE (PHILIPPINES)

The Diosdado Macapagal Bridge, formerly known as the second Magsaysay Bridge, is a cable-stayed
bridge located in Butuan City. With a 360-meter main span, its total bridge length is 880 m. It has a
length of 908 m (2,979 ft), making it the longest bridge in Mindanao, and the third-longest cable-stayed
bridge in the Philippines.

JIAXING-SHAOXING SEA BRIDGE (CHINA)

The Jiaxing-Shaoxing Sea Bridge, sometimes shortened to Jiashao Bridge, is the world's longest and
widest multi-pylon cable-stayed bridge. From end to end, it stretches 10.14 km across the Qiantang
River estuary, at Shaoxing, Zhejiang, China.
References:

https://www.nps.gov/places/new-river-gorge-bridge.htm

https://www.cuttingtechnologies.com/types-of-bridges/#:~:text=Cantilever%20Bridges,to%20the
%20structure%20supporting%20it.

https://blog.enerpac.com/7-types-of-bridges-every-engineer-should-know-about/

https://www.bigrentz.com/blog/types-of-bridges#arch-bridge

https://www.countrylife.co.uk/architecture/the-forth-bridge-a-masterpiece-thats-1-5-miles-long-360ft-
high-made-of-54000-tonnes-of-steel-and-all-set-on-granite-piers-sunk-90ft-deep-235547

https://www.y101fm.com/features/lifestyle/cebu-s-best/6145-mactan-bridge-named-serging-osmena-
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https://www.tripadvisor.com.ph/Attraction_Review-g811251-d1799443-Reviews-San_Juanico_Bridge-
Tacloban_Leyte_Province_Leyte_Island_Visayas.html

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https://historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowser=pennsylvania/slaterun/
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%20bridges%20are%20the%20simplest,transferred%20directly%20to%20the%20piers.

https://www.pinoyadventurista.com/2011/11/agas-agas-bridge.html#:~:text=Agas%2DAgas%20Bridge
%20in%20Brgy,the%20area%20during%20heavy%20rains.

https://www.artst.org/beam-bridges/\

https://pinoybuilders.ph/bridges/?fbclid=IwAR37LRzyU5Iz4vpdmjjPzwmVgRNMdjWy6-
jAsQ8cwMh20O0WuJCnpmcNQII

https://www.wowcordillera.com/2023/01/longest-suspension-bridge-in-southeast.html?
fbclid=IwAR3eczOXIGmldYbYB54Aku_O5cAf0q_e3xiuLhU9OpKane_UIMfBOYm5ov4

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https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jiaxing-Shaoxing_Sea_Bridge