Difference Between Bridge and Viaduct

In this article that we bring you today, we are going to address a topic that may be very interesting for many of you and that will also clear up any type of doubt from both ordinary people and engineering professionals, We are talking about the difference between a bridge and a viaduct. Do any of you know what they are?

If you know any difference between these two constructions, but you feel the curiosity of wanting to know even more with this publication, we assure you that you will get the most useful information on the subject. We are going to explain everything in a simple way, that is, so that everyone understands it.

In addition to naming the main differences between a bridge and a viaduct, We are also going to define what each of these two constructions consists of and we will discover which are the most important bridges and viaducts in Spanish territory.. Now with the summer and the holidays, your interest may be aroused and you feel like going to visit them.

Bridge: what is it and materials

It is a construction carried out by human beings on a surface in depression to communicate one point with another. When we are referring to a depression surface, we mean a terrain with depth, concave, or in which there are masses of water such as rivers, lagoons, sea, etc.

The main function of bridges is allow the transit of people or goods, it can be on foot or in any type of vehicle. There are pedestrian bridges, or bridges with access to vehicles or trains if it is conditioned for it.

Depending on the use to which it will be put, can be classified into different types such as aqueduct, when it was used for the transport of water, viaduct, which we will see later or gateways, which are those intended for pedestrian traffic.

Safety is essential in this type of construction, therefore the structural design must be carried out by professionals in the sector. This design has to be based on structural calculations in which different aspects are taken into account, such as the material to build it.

The bridges as we have just seen, They can be made of different materials and depending on whether you decide on one or the other, the construction will have certain characteristics.

• If they opt for using wood, they are faster bridges to build and with a not so high cost.. On the contrary, they are usually not very resistant and durable. It is a material that is very sensitive to certain atmospheric agents.
• A stone bridge is much more resistant and durable over time., although its construction already supposes a higher cost. It does not require much care and it withstands different climates very well.
• Metal bridges are the most versatile, as they allow for unique designs. They are constructions, which are carried out quickly, but involve a high cost. Something that should be noted is that with the passage of time and a certain climate or gases they begin to suffer a corrosive action.
• Lastly, concrete bridges are quick to build, strong and affordable for the pockets of the construction companies. They are very resistant to the action of different atmospheric agents.

What types of bridges can we find?

We have already seen what a bridge is and the different materials with which it can be built. Now, it's the time to discover the forms that these constructions can take depending on the efforts of its construction elements.

• girder bridges: they are mainly made up of horizontal elements supported by pillars or supports. The elements that are vertical, such as the pillars, support a compression force. On the other hand, the elements that are horizontal, tend to flex due to the weight they support.
• arch bridges: they are constructions composed of a part curved upwards and that rests on supports or stirrups. We can find two different constructions in this type of bridges. In one of them, the arch is the one that maintains the deck of the bridge where it circulates, while in another it is the same on which the deck depends with the help of supports.
• Hanging bridges: In this case, the bridge deck is hanging and is supported by the help of a large number of braces. In addition, two large cables anchored on both sides of the bridge.

Viaduct: what it is and how it is built

The term viaduct is divided into two words "via" and "duct". The first one tells us about the road, while the second talks about construction. So we can say that a viaduct is a construction that has been created for the circulation of people either on foot or by vehicle.

Generally, these types of constructions tend to have a considered size, so they are mainly crossed by vehicles. and not so much by people on foot. The viaducts are carried out in order to unite two isolated points seeking to save valleys or other types of geographical accidents.

The Roman viaducts were built with stone materials and arches, as we can see in the aqueducts. With the passage of time, all this evolved and even more so with the arrival of the railway, so that wood began to replace stone due to cost issues, since wood was a very abundant material.

Currently, The materials most commonly used for the construction of viaducts are reinforced concrete and steel. One of the main challenges posed by this type of construction is the lack of support or the distance to be covered.

Main differences between bridge and viaduct

Once we have defined what each of these two terms consists of, which seem very similar, it is time to discover what their main differences are and thus, knowing how to distinguish one construction from another.

The first difference is that bridges are often built over large bodies of water or obstacles that do not allow passage across them, so they provide a step on them. Another aspect to take into account is in the economic field, since a bridge represents a much larger investment than the construction of a viaduct.

Viaducts are usually different bridges connected to each other by arch bridge structures.. They are usually built on natural or structural elements. Unlike bridges, viaducts are supported by arches made of reinforced concrete or thousands of years ago with stones.

A bridge and a viaduct are the same or similar in terms of structure, that is, we refer to the design and method of construction. Their main difference has to do with the extension of each one of them and the surface where they are built.

Ultimately, both constructions are longitudinal with a flat and smooth surface that is used as a transport path for vehicles or people. The viaducts, it should be noted that they can be underground or aerial, these constructions try to cover the distance between two points. The bridge, on the other hand, is a shorter-distance construction and has the function of joining two points, but not that of final destinations.

Bridges and viaducts in Spain

In this last section in which we find ourselves, We are going to talk about the different bridges and viaducts that we can find throughout the length and width of the Spanish territory. Some of the structures that you will see in the following list are worth visiting and contemplating their majesty.

New Bridge – Malaga

El most emblematic monument of Ronda and that, has its origins in the year 1759.

Los Tilos Viaduct – La Palma

Construction with a total length of 155 meters, which crosses a ravine and in which it can be seen that there are no intermediate supports.

Biscay Bridge

It is a unique bridge, which connects the city of Getxo with Portugalete crossing the Nervión river.

Montabliz Viaduct

In this case, This construction has been created to save the descent of the Bisueña River, south of Santander. With a total length of 721 meters and 150 meters high.

Roman Bridge of Cangas de Onís – Asturias

One of the most visited and photographed bridges in Asturias and even from Spain. Bridge that crosses the Sella river through the Asturian municipality of Cangas de Onís.

Lindin Viaduct

With a length of 757 meters and a height that reaches 103 meters. It is built on the valley of the Abidueiras stream.

Triana Bridge – Seville

There are several bridges that cross the Guadalquivir river through the city of Seville, but many They are those who say that none like the one in Triana.

Erques Viaduct

The Erques ravine separated the municipalities of Adeje and Guía de Isora, on this phenomenon in 2015, the Erque viaduct was built that connects the two points directly.

As we have been able to discover, there are small differences between the two constructions, but not in terms of their structure since the same type of work is carried out. Both structures serve to bridge distances between two points. They differ in their size.

We hope that this publication that we have brought you today will be interesting for you, in addition to solving any type of doubt about what each of these constructions consist of, and their differences.