The Cantilever Bridge

    To solve the problem of increasing the span distance, other alternatives to beam and arch bridges included suspension and cantilever bridges.  Cantilever bridges are a modified form of beam bridge, with the support being placed not at the end, but somewhere in the middle of the span. A cantilever is a structure or beam that is unsupported at one end but supported at the other, like diving boards.  This configuration made longer spans possible and wider clearance beneath.  Among the largest cantilever bridges in the United States is the Commodore John Barry Bridge, pictured on Cantilever 1.  The cantilever bridge was a popular type of bridge in the first half of the twentieth century, but at present, some commentators believe that the cable-stayed bridge will replace it for comparable spanning distances.  It has been seen as advantageous due to its ability to span wide spaces and be built without the need of expensive falseworks (used to support the bridge under construction) or foundation piers.

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