The Tokyo Gate Bridge is listed as an example of which bridge type?

• A. Cantilever Bridge
• B. Arch Bridge
• C. Suspension Bridge
• D. Truss Bridge

Answer: (D)

The main idea is recognizing the structural system from the appearance of the bridge. A truss bridge carries loads through a framework of straight members connected to form triangular units. Those triangles convert bending forces into axial tension and compression in the members, making the structure efficient for long spans.

The Tokyo Gate Bridge is built with a lattice of steel members arranged in triangles, creating a truss-like framework that supports the deck. This makes it a truss bridge, often seen as a through-truss where the roadway sits between the truss sides and the load path travels through the web of members.

This is different from an arch bridge, which relies on a curved arch to carry loads, a suspension bridge, which hangs the deck from main cables between towers, or a cantilever bridge, which uses projecting arms anchored at one end. The distinctive triangular web of a truss is the telltale sign.