bridges at last

A bridge is a tipe of structure made to provide passage over obstacles like rivers, valleys, railroads, etc. These are the main types of bridges:

Arch bridges: it lays its weigh in the two bases located on each side of the obstacle relaying in compression.

Beam bridges: bridges that distribute their weigh trough a specially constructed beam that resist bending.


Cantilever bridges: It is similar to the beam Bridges but There are structures holding the two arms together and the connection to the pier may be a hinge structure with cabels or a rigid support.

Cable-stayed bridges: These kinds of bridges are bigger and the weight is distributed all over the spam by some type of cables which are made of high tensile steel and are suported by a solid pier.
Suspension bridges: it is an improved version of the Cable-stayed bridges and are used for bigger obstacles because they relay their weight in some more piers.

Trusses: is a type of structure that works as a bridge. A truss is used to reduce the weight of the structure itself by placing material where it can be most effective, using the principle of triangulation to achieve rigidity.



The technology used in bridges always depends on the type of the obstacle. The construction methods vary in complexity but always the process is begins on the study of the obstacle and the distance to travel.

A very good example of bridges in Venezuela is the Bridge “General Rafael Urdaneta” or “Bridge over Lake Maracaibo” the pride of my home town! This was once the biggest bridge in the world