Segmental arch – Stone Arch Bridges

Bridge Abutments

Stone arch bridges must have substantial and properly designed abutments in order to resist the enormous thrust of the arch without yielding.

Essentially a cross between Roman and segmental arches, the basket-handle arches form a unique group of intriguing arch designs.

Do to how weight is loaded onto the arch of a stone arch bridge, long individual spans present an intriguing and difficult challenge.

The Thompson bridge in southern Cowley County, Kansas, is an intriguing stone arch culvert built by Jerry Hammond in 1906.

The amount of weight a stone arch bridge can handle is related to a variety of factors including span, arch thickness, condition and more.

We have released a detailed account of the unique history of Pudden Bridge, the famous triple-arch stone bridge near Dexter, Cowley County, Kansas.

Mutli-span stone arch bridges can be modestly challenging to build, but open up several possibilities for increasing waterway, if planned correctly.

Segmental arches allow an arch bridge to achieve long spans without excessive rises, but require the ends of the arch to be firmly secured.