Which design category includes the total span length, number of spans, bridge elevation, and longitudinal slope, as well as foundation burial depth?

• A. Bridge vertical design
• B. Bridge horizontal (or longitudinal) design
• C. Geometric design
• D. Structural analysis

Answer: (B)

The element being tested is how a bridge is laid out along its length. The horizontal (or longitudinal) design focuses on the axis-aligned geometry of the bridge: the total span length, how many spans the bridge has, the elevation along the bridge, and the slope from one end to the other. These factors define the longitudinal profile and overall plan of the structure, including how deep foundations must be buried to achieve the required deck height and alignment with the approaches.

Vertical design deals with the cross-sectional shape and vertical clearances, not the full length layout. Geometric design is a broader term for overall geometry but in bridge practice the longitudinal/horizontal design is the specific category that covers these axis-oriented parameters. Structural analysis governs forces and responses, not the layout or elevation details described here.