Timeline on the development of bridges

By Rasamrita Vedprakash
  • 2000 BCE

    Trees falling naturally over river

    People used trees that fell over the rivers in order to cross
  • 2000 BCE

    Planks used to cross rivers

    Planks would allow to cross even wider streams and rivers
  • 1380 BCE

    Clapper Bridges

    Made of late slabs of stone in early bridges
  • 1300 BCE

    Arch Bridge

  • 1220 BCE

    Man's first attempt of a suspension bridge

    Early people used creepers and vines to make ropes and use these to make hanging bridges
  • 600

    Tiber Bridge

    The first beam bridge
  • 1570

    Truss Bridge

    Has a load bearing superstructure composed of a truss.

  • Suspension bridge

    a bridge in which the weight of the deck is supported by vertical cables suspended from further cables that run between towers and are anchored in abutments at each end.

  • Viaduct Bridge

    A viaduct is a long bridge-like structure carrying a road or railway across a valley or other low ground.

  • Cantilever Bridge

    A bridge built using cantilevers.

  • Cable-stayed Bridge

    A bridge in which the weight of the deck is supported by a number of cables running directly to one or more towers.