17-10-2014, 12:39 PM
Abstracts: A MECHANICAL BRIDGE (Bascule bridge) is a drawbridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf", throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for MARINE TRAFFIC. Bascule is a French term for seesaw and balance, and mechanical bridges operate along the same principle. They are the most common type of movable bridge in existence because they open quickly and require relatively little energy to operate.