Which part lies directly below the bearings and transmits loads to ground?

• A. Deck
• B. Girders
• C. Substructure
• D. Bearings

Answer: (C)

In a bridge, the load path starts at the deck, goes through the girders, and is transferred across the bearings into the substructure. The substructure sits directly below the bearings and carries those loads down to the foundations and then into the ground. The deck is the surface people ride on, and the girders are the main horizontal members that span between supports; neither of these directly reaches the ground. The bearings are the interface that allow movement and load transfer, with the substructure acting as the actual support framework that anchors everything to the ground.