eli5 Why are bridges always set at the same level (straight rather than one side shorter than the other)?

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I just realized last night I’ve never seen that, even though often times bridges are connecting cliff faces or different bodies of land. So… why? Why do they always seem to start on the same level?

Also please let me know if that’s the wrong tag… mental five year old me wasn’t sure.

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Anonymous 0 Comments

Bridges are built to last a very, very long time, and the simpler you make them the longer they will last.

A sloped bridge is going to have an uneven distribution of force. One end will be more affected by its own weight than the other. That’s not good for longevity.

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