 A truss bridge operated by Southern Pacific Railroad in Contra Costa County, California converted to pedestrian use and pipeline support | |
| Ancestor | Beam bridge[citation needed] |
|---|---|
| Related | None |
| Descendant | Cantilever bridge, truss arch bridge, transporter bridge, lattice bridge[citation needed] |
| Carries | Pedestrians, pipelines, automobiles, trucks, light rail, heavy rail |
| Span range | Short to medium – not very long unless it is continuous |
| Material | Timber, iron, steel, reinforced concrete, prestressed concrete |
| Movable | May be movable – see movable bridge |
| Design effort | Medium |
| Falsework required | Depends upon length, materials, and degree of prefabrication |
A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements, usually forming triangular units. The connected elements, typically straight, may be stressed from tension, compression, or sometimes both in response to dynamic loads. There are several types of truss bridges, including some with simple designs that were among the first bridges designed in the 19th and early 20th centuries. A truss bridge is economical to construct primarily because it uses materials efficiently.