Bailey bridge

This article is about portable prefabricated bridges. For specific bridges named "Bailey", see Bailey Bridge.

Bailey bridge

Bailey Bridge on the Route de Cilaos (N5), La Réunion, directly north of Ilet Furcy.
Span range	Short
Material	Timber, steel
Movable	No
Design effort	Low
Falsework required	None

A Bailey bridge is a type of portable, pre-fabricated, truss bridge. It was developed in 1940–1941 by the British for military use during the Second World War and saw extensive use by British, Canadian and American military engineering units. A Bailey bridge has the advantages of requiring no special tools or heavy equipment to assemble; joint can be welded, bolted or riveted. The wood and steel bridge elements were small and light enough to be carried in trucks and lifted into place by hand, without the use of a crane. These bridges were strong enough to carry tanks. Bailey bridges continue to be used extensively in civil engineering construction projects and to provide temporary crossings for pedestrian and vehicle traffic.