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Arch bridge

An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side. A viaduct (a long bridge) may be made from a series of arches, although other more economical structures are typically used today.

This article is about the structure type. For specific bridges with this name, see Arch Bridge (disambiguation).

Ancestor

Clapper bridge

Truss arch bridge, moon bridge (masonry)

Pedestrians, vehicles, light rail, heavy rail, water

short, but often set end-to-end to form a large total length

masonry, concrete, wrought iron, cast iron, timber, structural steel

No

Low

Yes

Where the arches are founded in a watercourse bed (on piers or banks) the water is diverted so the gravel can first be excavated and replaced with a good footing (of strong material). From these, the foundation are erected/raised to the height of the intended base of the arches, a point known as the springing.

piers

Falsework (in British English: arch frame) is fabricated, typically from timbers and boards. Since each arch of a multi-arch bridge will impose a thrust upon its neighbors, it is necessary either that all arches of the bridge be raised at the same time, or that very wide piers be used. The thrust from the end arches is taken into the earth by substantial (vertical) footings at the canyon walls, or by large inclined planes forming in a sense ramps to the bridge, which may also be formed of arches.

centering

The several arches are (or single arch is) constructed over the centering. Once each basic arch barrel is constructed, the arches are (or arch is) stabilized with infill masonry above, which may be laid in horizontal courses (layers). These may form two outer walls, known as the spandrels, which are then infilled with appropriate loose material and rubble.

running bond

The road is paved and walls protectively confine traffic to the bridge.

parapet

Corbel arch built from Cyclopean masonry, in the Greek Arkadiko bridge

Corbel arch built from Cyclopean masonry, in the Greek Arkadiko bridge

Corbel arch in the shape of an isosceles triangle, supporting the Greek Eleutherna Bridge

Corbel arch in the shape of an isosceles triangle, supporting the Greek Eleutherna Bridge

A corbelled arch with the masonry untrimmed

A corbelled arch with the masonry untrimmed

A corbel arch with the masonry cut into an arch shape

A corbel arch with the masonry cut into an arch shape

Different types of arch bridges

Single-arch bridge Stari most in Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Single-arch bridge Stari most in Mostar in Bosnia and Herzegovina

Pointed arch of the Puente del Diablo in Spain

Pointed arch of the Puente del Diablo in Spain

Alte Nahebrücke (c.1300) supports buildings on its piers

Alte Nahebrücke (c.1300) supports buildings on its piers

Krämerbrücke (1325) – longest continuously inhabited bridge in Europe.

Krämerbrücke (1325) – longest continuously inhabited bridge in Europe.

Ponte Santa Trinita. First bridge with elliptic arches

Ponte Santa Trinita. First bridge with elliptic arches

Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy (2011)

Rialto Bridge over the Grand Canal in Venice, Italy (2011)

A masonry moon bridge showing the buttressing approach ramps that take the horizontal thrust of the arch

A masonry moon bridge showing the buttressing approach ramps that take the horizontal thrust of the arch

Fredrikstad bridge in Fredrikstad, Norway

Fredrikstad bridge in Fredrikstad, Norway

The Main Street Bridge in Columbus, OH is the only inclined-arch suspension bridge in North America.

The Main Street Bridge in Columbus, OH is the only inclined-arch suspension bridge in North America.

The Chaotianmen Bridge in Chongqing, China, is the world's longest through arch bridge.

The Chaotianmen Bridge in Chongqing, China, is the world's longest through arch bridge.

Bridge of Arta in Arta, Greece

Bridge of Arta in Arta, Greece

The Garabit Viaduct is a wrought iron truss arch bridge.

The Garabit Viaduct is a wrought iron truss arch bridge.

The dry stone bridge, so called Porta Rosa (4th century BC), in Elea, Province of Salerno, Campania, Italy (2005)

The dry stone bridge, so called Porta Rosa (4th century BC), in Elea, Province of Salerno, Campania, Italy (2005)

Bridge in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic (2004)

Bridge in Český Krumlov, Czech Republic (2004)

Grosvenor Bridge over the River Dee in Chester, Cheshire, England, U.K. (2007)

Grosvenor Bridge over the River Dee in Chester, Cheshire, England, U.K. (2007)

Union Arch Bridge carrying the Washington Aqueduct and MacArthur Boulevard (formerly named Conduit Road), Cabin John, Montgomery County, Maryland, U.S.A. (2008)

Union Arch Bridge carrying the Washington Aqueduct and MacArthur Boulevard (formerly named Conduit Road), Cabin John, Montgomery County, Maryland, U.S.A. (2008)

Arlington Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (2007)

Arlington Memorial Bridge over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (2007)

Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (2006)

Francis Scott Key Bridge over the Potomac River in Washington, D.C., U.S.A. (2006)

Woodrow Wilson Bridge carrying Interstate 95 (I-95) and the Capital Beltway over the Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S.A. (2007)

Woodrow Wilson Bridge carrying Interstate 95 (I-95) and the Capital Beltway over the Potomac River between Alexandria, Virginia and Oxon Hill, Maryland, U.S.A. (2007)

Tyne Bridge over the River Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, U.K. (2004)

Tyne Bridge over the River Tyne, Newcastle upon Tyne, England, U.K. (2004)

Hell Gate Bridge over the East River, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Hell Gate Bridge over the East River, New York City, New York, U.S.A.

Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (2010)

Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia (2010)

Daxi River Bridge of Jinhua–Wenzhou High Speed Railway

Daxi River Bridge of Jinhua–Wenzhou High Speed Railway

Use of modern materials[edit]

Most modern arch bridges are made from reinforced concrete. This type of bridge is suitable where a temporary centring may be erected to support the forms, reinforcing steel, and uncured concrete. When the concrete is sufficiently set the forms and falseworks are then removed. It is also possible to construct a reinforced concrete arch from precast concrete, where the arch is built in two halves which are then leaned against each other.


Many modern bridges, made of steel or reinforced concrete, often bear some of their load by tension within their structure. This reduces or eliminates the horizontal thrust against the abutments and allows their construction on weaker ground. Structurally and analytically they are not true arches but rather a beam with the shape of an arch. See truss arch bridge for more on this type.


A modern evolution of the arch bridge is the long-span through arch bridge. This has been made possible by the use of light materials that are strong in tension such as steel and prestressed concrete.

Boyd, Thomas D. (1978), "The Arch and the Vault in Greek Architecture", , 82 (1): 83–100 (91), doi:10.2307/503797, JSTOR 503797, S2CID 194040597

American Journal of Archaeology

Galliazzo, Vittorio (1995), I ponti romani, vol. 1, Treviso: Edizioni Canova,  88-85066-66-6

ISBN

Galliazzo, Vittorio (1994), I ponti romani. Catalogo generale, vol. 2, Treviso: Edizioni Canova,  88-85066-66-6

ISBN

O’Connor, Colin (1993), Roman Bridges, Cambridge University Press, p. 129,  0-521-39326-4

ISBN

Proske, Dirk (2009), Safety of historical stone arch bridges, Springer, p. 336,  978-3-540-77616-1

ISBN

NOVA Online – Super Bridge – Arch Bridges

Matsuo Bridge Co. – Arch Bridges

Historic Bridges of the Midwest

Historic Arch Railroad Bridges in Western Massachusetts