Which pavement type is popular for bridge pavements due to its flexibility, durability, and relatively low cost, and can accommodate slight movements in the bridge structure?

• A. Concrete pavement
• B. Specialized surface
• C. Asphalt
• D. Bridge pavement

Answer: (C)

Pavement on bridges benefits from a material that can flex with small movements, stand up to traffic, and keep costs reasonable. Asphalt pavement does that well because its viscoelastic binder mix makes the surface flexible. This allows it to deform slightly under loads and temperature changes and then recover, so the deck’s movements at joints or due to expansion and contraction don’t produce the cracking you’d see in a more rigid material. Asphalt is also relatively inexpensive to install and, importantly, easy and quick to repair—lot overlays or rescoring can restore a smooth, durable surface without expensive, disruptive work.

Concrete pavement, by contrast, is rigid and more prone to cracking when the bridge moves, which is why it’s less favored for decks where movement is expected. A generic “specialized surface” term doesn’t point to a standard material with these flexible, forgiving properties, and “bridge pavement” is too vague. So the choice that aligns with flexibility, durability under traffic, and lower cost is asphalt.