Many of the bridges built over the last five years show a high degree of experimentation on the part of both engineers and architects. Starting with a brief historical survey of bridges, the book uses choice examples to illustrate key engineering developments and the variety of basic design types. It goes on to examine the main architectural and engineering trends in recent bridge construction, showing how contemporary bridges often draw on a mixture of formerly exclusive design types. The bulk of the book then analyses 30 of the most exciting contemporary designs.