A structure erected over a river, creek, stream, ditch, ravine, or other place, to facilitate the passage thereof; including by the term both arches and abutments. Bridge Co. v. Railroad Co., 17 Conn. 56, 42 Am. Dec. 716; Proprietors of Bridges v. Land Imp. Co., 13 N. J. Eq. 511; Rusch v. Davenport, 6 Iowa, 455; Whitall v. Gloucester County, 40 N. J. Law, 305. A building of stone or wood erected across a river, for the common ease and benefit of travelers. Jacob. Bridges are either public or private. Public bridges are such as form a part of the highway, common, according to their character as foot, horse, or carriage bridges, to the public generally, with or without toll. State v. Street, 117 Ala. 203, 23 South. S07; Everett v. Bailey, 150 Pa. 152, 24 Atl. 700; Rex v. Bucks County, 12 East, 204. A private bridge is one which is not open to the use of the public generally, and does not form part of the highway, but is reserved for the use of those who erected it, or their successors, and their licensees. Rex v. Bucks County, 12 East, 192.
Black’s Law Online Dictionary
