| Stone arch bridges are the oldest of the arch bridges, as early engineers made use of this available material. However, there is an aesthetic appeal to the use of stone, and stone was used even in the twentieth century in construction of some very beautiful and important bridges. Stone as a material handles the massive compressive forces acting on the bridge. To the extent that concrete is comprised of sand and gravel, they are included here as "stone" arch bridges, though might be considered separately. |
For more examples of stone arch bridges, go to Stone Arch Bridge Archives and More Stone Arch Bridge Archives. For other websites featuring a particular state's stone arch bridges, see, e.g., Connecticut, Minnesota and New York. These pages have been significantly revised and errors corrected. Should any errors still persist, please contact me. |
 |
 |
|
The Arlington Memorial Bridge (1926-32) linking Washington, D.C. to Arlington, Virginia (and symbolically, "North" to "South") is 2,163 feet long and composed of granite and concrete. For further information see the National Park Service site for this bridge. |
The Ponte Cestio Bridge (originally built 1st Century B.C., subsequently rebuilt) crosses the Tiber River in Rome, Italy to Trastevere. It is named for its Lucius Cestius. See The Bridges and the Tiber Island.
|
 |
 |
|
Eight Arch Bridge (1803) spans the Neshaminy Creek, in Warwick Township, Pennsylvania, and according to the National Register of Historic Places, is also known as Pettit's Bridge and Bridge Valley Bridge.
|
The Delaware River
Viaduct (1908-11) at Columbia, New Jersey, just south of the famed
Delaware Water Gap, was constructed by the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Railroad to improve the transportation route in the heyday of
rail expansion. The bridge is1,450 feet long and made of concrete
and reinforced steel.
|
| All text and images copyright (c) Steven M. Richman 1999-2007 |