underbridge

English edit

A low underbridge at Littleport station, for use by car traffic when the nearby level crossing is closed to allow a train to pass.

Etymology edit

under- +‎ bridge

Noun edit

underbridge (plural underbridges)

(British) A bridge that allows traffic to pass under a road, river, railway etc.
- 1979 August, Michael Harris, “A line for all reasons: the North Yorkshire Moors Railway”, in Railway World, page 412:
  As to underbridges, the policy is to wait until the small underline bridges become due for renewal when they will be replaced by prestressed concrete structures.
- 2020 December 2, “Network News: Green light for NR to close crossings”, in Rail, page 23:
  Additionally, NR has been given permission to alter highway rights at the underbridge at Littleport station.
The underneath of a bridge.

Usage notes edit

Where a bridge takes one form of transport over another it is both an underbridge and an overbridge, depending on the reference level. For example, where a road passes above a railway, the bridge is an overbridge from the point of view of the railway, and an underbridge from the point of view of the road.

References edit

“underbridge”, in Lexico, Dictionary.com; Oxford University Press, 2019–2022.