Moveable bridge

A moveable bridge is a bridge that moves to allow passage for (usually) boats or barges. By making the bridge moveable it may be made low, which avoids the expense of high piers and long approaches, greatly reducing the cost of the bridge. The principal disadvantage is that the traffic on the bridge must be halted when it is opened for passages. For seldom used railroad bridges over busy channels the bridge may be left open and then closed for train passages. For small bridges bridge movement may be enabled without the need for an engine. Some bridges are operated by the users, especially those with a boat, others by a bridgeman, sometimes remotely using video-cameras and loudspeakers. Generally the bridges are powered by electric motors, whether operating winches, gearing, or hydraulic pistons. While moveable bridges in their entirety may be quite long, the length of the moveable portion islol restricted by engineering and cost considerations to a few hundred feet.

There are often traffic lights for the road and water traffic, and moving barriers for the road traffic.

In the United States, regulations governing the operation of moveable bridges, for example, hours of operation and how much advance notice must be given by water traffic, are listed in title 33 of the Code of Federal Regulations ; temporary deviations are published in the Coast Guard's Local Notice to Mariners .

Types of moving bridges

• Drawbridge - the bridge deck is hinged on one end
• Bascule bridge - a drawbridge hinged on pins with a counterweight to facilitate raising
• Folding bridge - a drawbridge with multiple sections that collapse together horizontally
• Curling bridge - a drawbridge with multiple sections that curl vertically
• Lift bridge - the bridge deck is lifted up by counterweighted cables mounted on towers
• Table bridge - a lift bridge with the lifting mechanism mounted underneath it
• Retractable bridge (Thrust bridge) - the bridge deck is retracted to one side
• Rolling bascule bridge - an unhinged drawbridge which is lifted by the rolling of a large gear segment along a horizontal rack
• Submersible bridge - the bridge deck is lowered down into the water
• Tilt bridge - the bridge deck, which is curved, is lifted up at an angle
• Swing bridge - the bridge deck rotates around a fixed point, usually at the center, but may resemble a gate in its operation
• Transporter bridge - a structure high above carries a suspended, ferry-like structure
• Jet bridge - a passenger bridge to an airplane. One end is mobile with height, yaw, and tilt adjustments on the outboard end

Visual index of moving bridges

• 
  Drawbridge
• 
  Bascule bridge
• 
  Folding bridge
• 
  Curling bridge
• 
  Lift bridge
• 
  Table bridge
• 
  Retractable bridge (Thrust bridge)
• 
  Rolling bascule bridge
• 
  Submersible bridge
• 
  Tilt bridge
• 
  Swing bridge
• 
  Transporter bridge
• 
  Jet bridge

Accidents

• April 23, 1853 – Rancocas Creek, New Jersey: Engineer of Camden & Amboy's 2 p.m. train out of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania misses stop signals and runs his train off of an open drawspan at Rancocas Creek. Fortunately, there are no fatalities.

See also

• Bailey bridge, Medium Girder Bridge, and Armoured vehicle-launched bridge - transportable or relocatable bridges.
• Barton Swing Aqueduct, a swing bridge carrying barge traffic over a ship canal.
• Pontoon bridge - may be built with a barge or boat-like section that may be moved for passage.
• List of rail accidents (pre-1950)

External links

• Moveable Bridges in the British Isles