While there are many different kinds of bridges there are certain parts that are part of each bridge (see Appendix B). Every bridge has a deck, which is where you walk or drive cars on. They also have supports that help hold them in place. The supports of a bridge all rest on a foundation in the ground. The road leading up to a bridge is called the approach.
In a beam bridge and arch bridge the supports at the end are called abutments and the supports in the middle are called piers. In a suspension bridge towers provide support. The long cables that are strung over the towers are called cables and they are tied down in anchors on land. Hangers run from the cables and hold the deck up.
