What is the difference. And if the print that designed the structure says it is a bridge. And it meets the state criteria for a bridge . Would it be a bridge or a culvert?
What is the difference. And if the print that designed the structure says it is a bridge. And it meets the state criteria for a bridge . Would it be a bridge or a culvert?
The term "bridge" can sometimes be broad and include culverts. The feds define a bridge as any above grade crossing that spans 20ft or more, but that's really just a definition created for the national bridge inventory. A 16ft bridge is still a bridge, its just not on the national registry and therefore doesn't require inspection. What differentiates a culvert from a bridge is that culverts convey water through them and are typically made up of sections of boxes or pipes. The definition gets a little gray when you're comparing say a concrete slab bridge and a box culvert. Then you need to look more into the design (does it have bearings? What's the reinforcement pattern? Is there an invert? Etc)
