Editing Arch bridge (section)

{{short description|Bridge with arch-shaped supports}}
{{About
|the structure type|specific bridges with this name|Arch Bridge (disambiguation)}}
<!--Note that this taxobox is for generic bridge types, not specific (except as an example). 
The ancestor, sibling, and descendent references should follow the current taxonomy at media:BridgeTaxonomy.jpg, 
see also Talk:Bridge -->
{{BridgeTypePix
|image=NagasakiMeganebashi.jpg
|image_title=[[Megane Bridge|A double-arch stone bridge]] in [[Nagasaki]], Japan
|type_name=Arch bridge
|sibling_names=
|descendent_names=[[Truss arch bridge]], [[moon bridge]] (masonry)
|ancestor_names=[[Clapper bridge]]
|carries=[[Pedestrian]]s, [[vehicle]]s, [[light rail]], [[heavy rail]], water
|span_range=short, but often set end-to-end to form a large total length
|material=[[masonry]], [[concrete]], [[wrought iron]], [[cast iron]], [[timber]], [[structural steel]]
|movable=No
|design=Low
|falsework=Yes}}

An '''arch bridge''' is a [[bridge]] with [[abutment]]s at each end shaped as a curved [[arch]]. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its [[structural load|loads]] partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side, and partially into a vertical load on the arch supports. A [[viaduct]] (a long bridge) may be made from a series of arches, although other more economical structures are typically used today.