The main difference between culvert and bridge is that a bridge is a passage we use for transportation over a large water body or physical obstruction, while a culvert is a manmade tunnel that carries a stream under a railway or road.
A bridge is a structure that connects two disconnected areas of a country, two ocean banks, two river banks, or two regions belonging to two countries. However, a culvert is a tunnel-like structure, allowing water to pass under a railway or a roadway.
Key Areas Covered
1. What is a Culvert
– Definition, Features
2. What is a Bridge
– Definition, Features
3. Similarities Between Culvert and Bridge
– Outline of Common Characteristics
4. Difference Between Culvert and Bridge
– Comparison of Key Differences
Key Terms
Culvert, Bridge
What is a Culvert
A culvert is a manmade tunnel-like structure that carries a stream under a railway or road. When compared to a bridge, its structure is quite simple, and its key components include concrete boxes or cells, a slab or a top deck, pipes, and other supporting parts.
A culvert is most frequently embedded in the soil and supports a huge portion of the culvert load. It is usually built as an enclosed structure. It may come in rectangular, semi-circular, pear, or elliptical shapes. A culvert can also be an enveloping structure that comes with two sides, a floor, and a roof.
A culvert is usually around 6 meters in length. Unlike a bridge, a culvert does not require a deep foundation. It is generally built at a height of less than 20 feet over a particular obstruction. Culverts can either be built on the site or pre-constructed and shifted. Most significantly, its simple structure and design have made it possible to construct culverts with less labor in a relatively lesser time period.
The purpose of constructing a culvert is mainly to facilitate roadways both over and under the deck. A culvert is generally built to facilitate the flow of water through channels or tunnels under a roadway or a railway. Therefore a culvert is a reliable solution to prevent floods, waterlogging, and erosion.
What is a Bridge
A bridge is a passage we use for transportation. A bridge is usually constructed over a large water body or physical obstruction. The principal components of a bridge include the superstructure, the substructure, and the deck.
Bridges usually have complex structures. Piers and abutments are the supporting structures found in a bridge. Bridges usually have linear and straight assage. A bridge may usually extend from 6 meters to more than 120 meters and have extremely deep and strong foundations.
Similar to a culvert, bridges can be both pre-constructed and constructed on-site. However, unlike the construction of culverts, the construction of bridges requires more manpower, a substantial budget, and a lot of time.
Similarities Between Culvert and Bridge
- Both culvert and bridge are manmade structures that facilitate travel and transport.
- They both require manpower, time, and capital.
- Both culverts and bridges can be pre-constructed or constructed on the site.
Difference Between Culvert and Bridge
Definition
A bridge is a manmade structure constructed over a large water body or physical obstruction, while a culvert is a tunnel-like structure built to allow water to pass under a railway or a roadway.
Nature
Culverts are simple in structure and design, while bridges are more complex.
Size
Moreover, culverts tend to be smaller than bridges.
Main Components
Key components of a culvert include concrete boxes or cells, a slab or a top deck, pipes, and other supporting parts, while key components of a bridge include the superstructure, substructure, and deck.
Structure
A culvert has an enveloping structure that comes with two sides, a floor, and a roof, while a bridge usually has linear and straight assage. In contrast to a culvert, a bridge has no floor.
Construction
Unlike the construction of culverts, the construction of bridges requires more manpower, a substantial budget, and a lot of time.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the main difference between culvert and bridge is that a bridge is a passage we use for transportation over a large water body or physical obstruction, while a culvert is a tunnel-like structure that allows water to pass under a railway or a roadway
Reference:
1. “What Is a Bridge?” Techopedia.com, Techopedia, 30 Nov. 2012.
2. Hillhouse, Grady. “What Is a Culvert?” Practical Engineering, 5 May 2020.
Image Courtesy:
1. “Maakividest truup” By Neeme Sihv – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Sunset Bridge Dusk Silhouette Evening Dark” (CC0) via Max Pixel
Leave a Reply