TOMORROW'S ROADS TODAY - Maryland State Highway ...

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immediately beneath the driving surface), and the substructures (foundation and supporting posts and
piers). General condition ratings range from 0 (failed condition) to 9 (excellent).
Continuous Span Beam Bridge - A simple bridge made by linking one beam bridge to another; some of
the longest bridges in the world are continuous span beam bridges.
Crown - On road surfaces, where the center is the highest point and the surface slopes downward in
opposite directions, assisting in drainage. Also a point at the top of an arch.
Culvert - A drain, pipe or channel that allows water to pass under a road, railroad or embankment.
Damping - The action of reducing the vibration of an object. This tends to return the vibrating object to
its original position.
Dead Load - The static load imposed by the weight of materials that make up the bridge structure itself.
Debarment - Legally preventing a company or person from participation in bid lettings or construction
proceedings.
Deck - The roadway portion of a bridge, including shoulders. Most bridge decks are constructed as
reinforced concrete slabs, but timber decks are still seen in rural areas and open-grid steel decks are
used in some movable bridge designs.