Just What I Wanted to Know

Bridge: The structure generally consist of a deck or superstructure supported on two abutments and often includes intermediate piers.

Culvert: A structure which is usually covered with embankment and is composed of structural material around the entire perimeter, although some are supported on spread footings with the channel bed serving as the bottom of the culvert.

Here are two types of crossings: bridges and culverts, from a design standpoint, the defining feature of each is how it will perform during expected flows. A bridge allows passage over a body of water without the travel surface becoming subject to the forces of the moving water. Culverts allow flows to pass from one side to the other ranging from a trickle in the bottom of the pipe to both ends being fully submerged. In the most extreme rainfall or runoff events, the excess water that the culvert can’t carry might cross the roadbed itself.