Aesthetics of Bridges in Construction: Modern & Unique types of Handrails

Railings are guard rails intended to prevent people or vehicles from falling off bridges or preventing them from moving. Any material can be used to make handrails, including concrete, steel, wood, and others.

There is no connection between hand railing strength and bridge strength. A bridge with this feature also has an increased aesthetic appeal. It is often very helpful for pedestrians, drivers, and police to maintain lanes and speed on bridges with railings to prevent accidents.

Handrails Types

W Beam Railings

Railings with W beams are used on bridges with less traffic. Railings made of W beams are connected to steel posts or truss girders through a two wave design.

Railings made of W Beams are simple steel constructions capable of higher levels of strength. A full coat of paint and galvanizing is applied to pedestrian and steel railings.

Concrete Beam Railings

The most common material used for bridge construction is concrete. Concrete railings are attached to the deck slab to create a strong barrier between vehicles and the bridge deck slab. There is heavy truck traffic on the bridge or in urban areas for concrete railings would be a great choice.

Concrete railings have a high initial construction cost. Concrete railings can obstruct the view of an open road in many situations. It is possible to attach high strength concrete railings to tubular railings in such scenarios.

Steel Bridge Railings

A variety of cross sections and designs are available for steel railings. It is the most common and best railing system to use tubular rails. Railings made of steel are most frequently used for bridges because they can be built separately or integrated with other materials such as concrete.

Architectural steel railings are most commonly used on bridges with low vehicle traffic and designed for pedestrians. Bridges necessary for architecture do not possess a bulky and heavy design. Railings are designed to enhance pedestrian safety while incorporating decorative elements.

Glass Railings

Railings made of glass panels are known as glass railings. Glass railings are primarily made from tempered glass, which makes them extremely durable. It may be more expensive and not as effective to use glass railings in windy or rainy areas.

Wooden Railings

Buildings often use wooden railings, but bridges are less likely to do so. A temporary bridge over a river is primarily constructed with it.

Strong, durable, and low maintenance are the advantages of wooden railings. Wooden railings are normally prepared with pressure-treated lumber, which makes them resistant to rot and insects.

Paint or stain can be applied to wooden railings to make them fit a bridge's exterior. In areas with high winds or lots of rain, wooden railings aren't as suitable as other types of railings because they are more expensive.

Cable Railings

The cable railing is a type of railing that uses cables instead of traditional balusters or pickets. It is mainly stainless steel that is used to manufacture cable railings, making them very durable and strong.

There is no need to paint or stain them, so they require very little maintenance. The price for cable railings can be higher, and they may not be the best choice for your location if it's exposed to a lot of wind or rain.

To learn more, watch the following video tutorial.

Video Source: Timmons Group

Metal Railings

For any bridge, metal railings are the best and most economical choice, since they are durable and long lasting. Additionally, they don't require painting or staining, so they are low maintenance. Initial investments in metal railings can be quite high as well.

Thrie Beam Railings

Guard rails made of three beams are designed specifically for highways and can handle sharp curves and slopes. The beam rail has a three wave cross section, and is stronger and more corrosion resistant than W beams. A three beam rail system can redirect out-of-control vehicles so that they can stop more safely. Performance and versatility are enhanced by these rail systems.

Aesthetics of Bridges in Construction: Modern & Unique types of Handrails