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Table bridges are movable bridges that lift vertically to allow ships to pass. They are common in areas with waterways. Hydraulic pillars raise the bridge, and barriers prevent cars from entering. Alarms sound before raising, and access is controlled with lights and barriers.
A table bridge is a type of movable bridge that works by lifting a portion of the bridge bed vertically. Like other movable bridges, table bridges are used to fill the need to balance vessel and vehicle traffic. When the bridge is down, cars can drive over it, and when it’s raised, ships can drive under it. In communities such as harbors and areas with numerous waterways, table bridges and other drawbridges can be quite common.
How a table bridge works is relatively simple. When the bridge is down, it looks like a conventional bridge and can be designed with a variety of aesthetic schemes. When the bridge needs to be raised, hydraulic pillars underneath the bridge push it up, then lock into place to hold the bridge aloft. During this phase, cars cannot cross the bridge and barriers can be lowered in the road so that cars do not enter the waterway inadvertently.
Once a ship has successfully moved under the table bridge, the bridge can be lowered again, the barriers raised and cars can drive across it as usual. The bridge moving apparatus is concealed, so the bridge has a low profile, which may be important for aesthetic reasons in some communities. Some people dislike bridges with cantilever equipment used to move the bridge and may prefer tabletop bridges for this reason.
Bascule bridges present a safety concern for cars, as inattentive drivers could drive onto the bridge strip left in place while the bridge is active and not realize they are about to go off the road and into a waterway. For this reason access to the bridge can be controlled with lights which can be used to signal traffic, and traffic on the plank bridge can be further controlled with movable barriers which are used as a safety measure when the bridge cannot be crossed by car.
Before a table bridge is raised, it is typical for alarms to go off and sound to alert people in the area that the bridge is moving. Drivers are generally expected to stop and pedestrians are required to stop as well. In some regions, truck drivers may be required to stop at a bascule bridge to confirm that it is safe to cross before continuing, much like trucks stop at railroad tracks to check that no trains are arriving.
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