# What is a Cantilever Bridge?
**A cantilever bridge is a bridge type whose load-bearing structure consists of cantilevered arms projecting outward from the piers towards the centre of the span.** The two cantilever arms are connected in the middle by a short suspended span that hangs between them.
## How It Works
The principle relies on the lever effect:
– On each side of a pier, an arm extends — one towards the shore (the anchor arm) and one towards midstream (the cantilever arm)
– The weight of the anchor arm and any ballast counterbalances the cantilever arm
– A short bridge section is suspended between the tips of the cantilever arms
– This principle allows large spans without temporary supports in the water
## Advantages
– **Long spans** — suitable for wide rivers and deep valleys
– **No falsework in the water** — the bridge is built outward from the piers
– **Structural efficiency** — the counterbalance principle provides effective load transfer
## Famous Examples
– **Forth Bridge, Scotland (1890)** — an iconic example with a 521-metre span
– **Pont de Québec, Canada (1919)** — the world’s longest cantilever bridge (549 metres)
– **Howrah Bridge, Kolkata, India (1943)** — one of the busiest bridges in the world
## Application
Cantilever bridges are used where large spans are required and placing temporary supports is impractical or impossible, such as over wide rivers, deep gorges or heavily trafficked waterways.
## Related Terms
– Bridge
– Cantilever
– Span
– Truss bridge
– Pier
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