Bridge Types And Trade-offs

Four Ways to Cross a Gap

Humans have been building bridges for thousands of years. We've converged on four main types:

Beam: Simple plank across two supports

Arch: Curved structure pushing forces into the ground

Truss: Triangulated framework distributing load

Suspension: Cables hanging from towers, deck hangs from cables

Each type solves the "bridge problem" in a fundamentally different way. None is universally best—each excels in specific situations.