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Ricky Williams
Mrs. Deby Jizi
UWRT 1103
30 November 2015
Bridge Innovation
How will bridge construction be improved and made more efficient with the use of
innovative designs and advances in material? Some basic bridge designs that are effective are
arches, suspension, and trestle. Many bridges throughout history have used arches. Many bridges
today use cement or steel beams and cable. Some bridges require maintenance in order to ensure
that they do not fail. Bridge design failures result in tragic deaths and injuries. Bridges
sometimes have multiple purposes and functions, such as drawbridges and transporter bridges.
Bridges also can serve an aesthetic purpose by being a monumental piece for a certain location
There are 4 main steps of bridge design. First is conceptual, and is where several bridge
design ideas are formed. Second is preliminary, and is where the most feasible idea is selected.
Third is detailed, and this is where plans and documentation are completed so construction can
begin. Forth is construction, and this is where the steps are outlined on how to build the bridge.
When coming up with bridge designs, certain limitations must be taken into account.
Some of these limits are related to money, history, technical problem, social, or environment.
These limits may cause problems and will need to be kept in mind when proposing bridge design
ideas. 2 types of technical problems are, difficulties and limitations. Difficulties are able to be
solved while limits are points that things cannot be exceeded.

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The source states how the Federal Highway Administration has launched a site
specifically for innovation as it pertains to highway design and construction. Bridges design and
construction are included in this category. The piece tells how the use of these innovations are
accelerated now that the ideas are readily available. The site has allowed for more efficient
bridges to be built faster and with less cost.
This site seems like a good way for the innovative ideas to be spread and used across the
nation. It also means that ideas that havent been tested yet are able to be funded through grants
that the Federal Highway Administration give out.
The source talks about how the history of bridges. It also talks about the 4 main bridge
types. Those are: truss and beam, arch, cantilever, and suspension. There have been bridges built
that dont fit in one of the types alone and are more of a combination of 2 or more types.
This source gave good insight on the history and the basic types of bridges. It also was
helpful to see examples of the types and how they are used. The pictures of bridges from
different parts of history was a good way to look at the materials that were used.
The source talked about the materials used in bridges in contemporary society as well as
the materials that have been used throughout history. It talks about the different factors that go
into bridge design and construction. These factors are: traffic volume and load, traffic
disruptions, environmental and community safety, and cost of construction. The source later talks
about the innovations made in materials for construction.
This source was very informative when it comes to materials. It explained the progression
of materials throughout history. The pictures were somewhat helpful when it came to

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understanding the specific bridge designs and construction process. This set of factors were very
clear and easily understood.
This source covered the 4 basic designs for bridges in detail. It also explained the engineering
process for bridge design. It also explained the forces a bridge experiences. Another thing this
explained was factors that need to be considered in bridge construction and design.
The source added to factors that I have found through research. It included specific
environmental factors that werent discussed as much in other sources. This source also went
more in depth with the different types of bridges. The engineering process is very similar to the
one taught in Engineering 1201.
From this I learned that advances have been made in both design and materials. If I were
to continue my research, I would further my knowledge on how these advances have been used. I
would research if there are any bridges that have used innovative design and materials.
David-Response
How will bridge design change as the materials and processes we use change?
What is the future of bridge design?
I didnt know the Govt had a site catering to civil engineers. Id like to know more about that
and if there exists such a site for other disciplines.

Dylans Response--

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I believe the main question for this paper is, what is the future for bridges, where will they go
from this point on? Or how will they evolve to suit our needs in the future.
The main point of this paper is what bridges are and how they differ from one another, how they
are built and the materials used to build them. Obviously not all bridges are the same, and
different designs are needed depending on the reason the bridge needs to be there in the first
place.
I learned the process of building a bridge and the certain restrictions that building a bridge has.
Different things can limit what a bridge has to be made out of and the overall design that is going
to be built.

Russells Response
The paper is asking how bridge construction will be improved upon in the future.
The main point of this paper is to find out how bridge construction will be improved in the future
with advancements in technology.
I learned about everything it takes to make a good bridge and how we can make bridges better in
the future.