There is not too much difficult to understand the Difference between culvert and bridge. Here I have described in an easy way so that you can get the full concept easily. So, Let’s Start.
Bridge
Drainage structure which facilitates a communication pathway to carry a road or railway traffic across an obstacle with or without water is called a bridge.
The route of communication may be railways, roadways, cycle tracks, sidewalks, and the obstacle may be in the form of a river, stream, valley, channel, road, railway track, etc.
Read Also, Different types of bridges – All Types of Bridge used in Civil Engineering
Culvert
Culvert is a small bridge having a total length of 6 m or less than 6 m between the faces of abutments. In other words, a culvert is a tunnel structure that permits running water to pass under a roadway or railway.
This type of culvert is a permanent drainage structure that is mainly made to carry a roadway or railway track over small streams or canals.
Read Also, Different types of Culvert
Difference between culvert and bridge
The purpose of both bridges and culvert is to provide a transportation route over obstructions, which seems the same, but the span length differentiates between the two structures.
Some important Difference between culvert and bridge are given below:
| S.N | Bridge | Culvert |
| 1. | A bridge is a passage of transportation over a large body of water or physical obstruction. | A culvert is generally a tunnel like structure that permits water to pass under a roadway or railway. |
| 2. | The basic components of a bridge are superstructure, substructure and deck. | The components of culvert are comparatively simpler and include concrete boxes or cells, pipe, a top deck or slab and supporting parts. |
| 3. | Bridges are constructed at more than 20 feet height. | Culverts are built at less than 20 feet height. |
| 4. | The span of bridge ranges from 6 m to 120 m. | The length of culvert is not more than 6 m. |
| 5. | The supporting structures of a bridges are piers and abutments. | Culverts are usually embedded in the soil. The soil bears the major portion of the culvert load. |
| 6. | The structure and design of a bridge are complex, hence its construction requires a substantial budget. | The construction of a culvert requires a low budget. |
| 7. | A bridge have no floor. | A culvert is an enveloping structure consists of two sides, a roof and a floor. |
| 8. | Bridges are constructed at the site or pre-constructed in smaller parts. | Culverts can be pre-constructed or built at the site. |
| 9. | A bridge construction requires a lot of time and manpower. | Construction of culverts requires less time and labour because it is simple in structure and design. |
| 10. | It provides an easier route of transportation that saves time and reduces distance. | It prevents water logging, flood and erosion and allows water to flow. |
| 11. | It is built over a body of water that is large and has variable flow. | It is constructed when water needs to be conveyed through tunnels or channels under a roadway. |
| 12. | Bridges can resists heavy and speeding vehicles. | Some culverts are unsuitable for high velocity vehicles that have sharp corners like box culverts. |
Read Also,
Parts of bridge | Different types of the bridge | Abutment, Arch, Pile, Cap
Advantages And Disadvantages of Road Transport (Highway)
What is Camber in Road? Types, Advantages Disadvantages of Camber
