AN OVERVIEW OF TIMBER BRIDGES

This paper contains a review of literature on timber bridges. It presents recent developments and evolving concepts in timber bridge technology, including aspects concerning wood material, bridge design, construction, inspection, rating, and maintenance. This review indicates that timber bridge technology has advanced with the design and construction of a prototype of a prestressed, laminated timber bridge in Ontario, Canada. In the United States, the main effort of government and the timber industry is to promote timber bridge technology transfer.