Arch Bridges are one of the main types of bridges currently spread across the world. The other types being suspension and beam bridges. The structure of an arch bridge consists mainly of an arch. The pathway can be either on the arch,
below the arch or ontop of the arch. The pathway is never exactly on the arch, because near the ends of the arch the steepness would be to severe. The picture to the left shows how arches are used to suspend the path of the bridge. This is one of the ways that arch bridges are oriented. This bridge is the Humber Bay arch bridge in Toronto.
Pictured to the right is the cold spring canyon arch bridge in Santa Barbara, California. In this bridge the pathway is ontop of the arch that supports it.
Pictured below is Old bridge in Mostar, Bosnia and Herzegovina. This arch bridge, originally built by the Ottoman’s in the 16th , was designed by architect Hayruddin. A student of the famous architect Sinan. On this bridge the pathway is still supported by the arch but it also forms around the arch and is not completely flat. This bridge is not only importaint because it can let pedestrians cross the Neretva river, but it is Bosnia and Herzegovinas most recognisable landmark.
Arch Bridges have a strong structure and have the advantage that there doesn’t need to be anything in the middle and the path for ships under the bridge is easily passable. The arches can be very large and still structurally support a long road without having pilars in the middle of the structure. All of the tension is put onto the foundations on the sides of the bridge. This is why it is importaint that the foundations are good with arch bridges.