Difference Between Culvert And Bridge

A Big Confusion always flow in the mind of students and engineers that

What is the difference between culvert and bridge. and this blog is all about this confusion .First i am going to tell you what is bridge

Bridge :

A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles without closing the way underneath like body of water, Railways or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle. There are many types and different types .

The bridge is normally extended up to 6 m or over 6 m depend on the type of use.

Major bridge, have span more than 60 m
Minor bridge, have span varies from 6 m to 60 m
Long span, have span more than 120 m

Mainly , bridge allows easy movement of vehicles or people across a river . So ,this way it reduces the distance and time required to cross such a distance

Common Type of Bridge are –

• Simply Supported Bridge
• Suspension Bridge
• Cable-stayed Bridge
• Arch Bridge
• Truss Bridge

What is culvert ?

A culvert is known as bridge but bridge never known as culvert.So Basically
Culvert is a tunnel carrying a stream under a road or railway may act as a bridge for traffic to pass on it . Mainly span of the culvert is less than 6 m . A Culvert is designed for the height of 2 m to 3m

In other words, Culvert are that type of structure . That allow water to flow under a road, railway tracks or similar. The culvert is ideally suited for a road to limit water flow in a controlled way. 

Culvert is typically embedded by a soil . Culvert can be made up of a RCC or from steel (Structural Steel Plate & Corrugated Steel Pipe )

Note :-

The main purpose of constructing culverts is to prevent flooding . And to minimize erosion and to provide pathways for a run-off. That why culverts are mainly located under roadway or railway. 

Type of culverts are describe as following :-

 Box Culvert :

A box culvert in closed on all sides by side walls, top deck and floor slab

Slab culvert :

slab culverts are those in which only the top deck slab is present . Which may either rested on the side walls or directly on the ground without having the floor slab

Pipe Culvert :-

When a pipe is placed in an excavated trench to move water away then this type of culvert known as Pipe Culvert