Which bridge type is defined by a straight axis and simpler construction when geometry allows?

• A. Skewed Bridges
• B. Straight Bridges
• C. Through Bridge
• D. Cantilever Bridges

Answer: (B)

When a bridge can be laid out with a straight axis, the loads and geometry line up in a simple, uniform way. That straight alignment lets engineers use standard, repeatable members and straightforward formwork, so the deck and superstructure can be built with fewer special accommodations. With no skew between the bridge and the supports, there’s less torsion, simpler bearings, and easier construction sequencing. So the option defined by a straight axis and easier construction when geometry allows is straight bridges.

Skewed bridges, by contrast, have an angle between the bridge alignment and its supports, which complicates formwork and load paths. Through bridges describe a configuration where traffic passes through the main supporting structure, rather than over its exterior, which is a different structural typology. Cantilever bridges rely on extending arms that balance against each other, a construction method that is more complex than a straightforward straight-axis layout.