Roman Bridge Construction - Plate #2

 

In this first sketch the bridge piling is now taking shape. Note the heavy duty slave-powered crane used to lift the rubble and outside stone blocks to form the core and outside sleeve of the bridge pier. The center of the pier is formed of stone rubble laid in layers with a fitted stone outside and in the middle to hold it together. This core rests within the heavy log crib structure driven into the river bottom, inside the caisson.

In the second sketch the pier is almost finished with the pointed edge of the pier on the upstream side of the bridge, A smaller section of stone still needs to be placed on top of the bridge pier. The wooden structure sitting on the pontoon bridge next to the pier is one of the several arch supports that will be used to form the bridge arch between two piers.

Roman Bridge Construction - Plate #1

 

In the above drawing the first sketch is indicative of a timber caisson which is set in the river bottom, made watertight with mud and clay and then vacated of the water in the caisson. In the second sketch, a primitive slave-operated pile-driver drives piles (posts) into the river bottom to support a timber crib which will support one of the major bridge pilings. Note the pontoon bridge beside the work stations which is used to transport men and machines to the work areas across the length of the bridge under construction.

Roman Bridge

 

The picture is a part of a Roman Bridge showing the wooden timbered arch between two stone pillars. Coming will be some drawings showing the procedure for laying a bridge of this kind and building it from scratch.

Masonry Twin Arch Bridge

 

Masonry Twin Arch Bridge, top view.