Trestle bridge in the context of "Trestle support"

A bridge is a structure that crosses an obstacle such as a river, lake, railroad, road, or ravine. Its primary function is to transport vehicles, trains, and pedestrians, but bridges may also accommodate pipelines, buildings, wildlife, and canals. Basic structures used in bridge design include arches, trusses, beams, cantilevers, suspension cables, and cable-stays. Bridges are configured in a variety of forms, such as viaducts, aqueducts, trestles, movable bridges, double-deckers, pontoons, and portable military bridges. They may also be categorized by their materials, which include wood, brick, stone, iron, steel, and concrete.

The history of bridges reflects the evolution of humankind's engineering technologies. The Romans and ancient Chinese built major bridges of stone and timber. During the Renaissance, advances in science and engineering led to wider bridge spans and more elegant designs. Concrete was perfected in the early 1800s, and proved to be superior to stone in many regards. With the Industrial Revolution came mass-produced steel, which enabled the creation of suspension and cable-stayed bridges that could span wide obstacles.

An embankment is a raised wall, bank or mound made of earth or stones, that are used to hold back water or carry a roadway. A road, railway line, or canal is normally raised onto an embankment made of compacted soil (typically clay or rock-based) to avoid a change in level required by the terrain, the alternatives being either to have an unacceptable change in level or detour to follow a contour. A cutting is used for the same purpose where the land is originally higher than required.

A bridge is a structure designed to span an obstacle, such as a river or valley, allowing vehicles, pedestrians, and other loads to pass across. The Romans and ancient Chinese built major arch bridges of stone and timber. During the Renaissance, advances in science and engineering led to wider bridge spans and more elegant designs. Concrete was perfected in the early 1800s, and proved to be superior to stone in many regards. With the Industrial Revolution came mass-produced steel, which enabled the creation of suspension and cable-stayed bridges that could span wide obstacles. Over time, the maximum achievable span of bridges has steadily increased, reaching 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in 2022.

Most bridges consist of a flat deck, supported by structures such as beams, arches, or cables. These structures rest on a foundation that is carefully designed to prevent the bridge from settling into the subsoil. Bridges can be constructed in a wide variety of forms, depending on their purpose and location. Notable types include viaducts, which cross wide valleys; trestles to carry heavy trains; and pontoon bridges which float on water.

The Manchac Swamp Bridge is a twin concrete trestle bridge near Manchac in the U.S. state of Louisiana. It carries Interstate 55 and U.S. Route 51 over the Manchac Swamp in Louisiana and represents a third of the highway's approximately 66 miles (106 km) in Louisiana.

With a total length of 22.80 miles (36.69 km), it is one of the longest bridges in the world over water, and is the longest bridge on the Interstate Highway System, and some claim it is the longest toll-free road bridge in the world.

A bridge is a structure designed to span an obstacle, such as a river or valley, allowing vehicles, pedestrians, and other loads to pass across. Most bridges consist of a flat deck, supported by structures such as beams, arches, or cables. These structures rest on a foundation that is carefully designed to prevent the bridge from settling into the subsoil. Bridges can be constructed in a wide variety of forms, depending on their purpose and location. Notable types include viaducts, which cross wide valleys; trestles to carry heavy trains; and pontoon bridges which float on water.

The Romans and ancient Chinese built major arch bridges of stone and timber. During the Renaissance, advances in science and engineering led to wider bridge spans and more elegant designs. Concrete was perfected in the early 1800s, and proved to be superior to stone in many regards. With the Industrial Revolution came mass-produced steel, which enabled the creation of suspension and cable-stayed bridges that could span wide obstacles. Over time, the maximum achievable span of bridges has steadily increased, reaching 2 kilometers (1.2 miles) in 2022.