A
timber bridge is a structure composed wholly out of wood, while a stone pillar bridge features a wooden
superstructure resting on stone
pillars. Strictly speaking, many bridges of the second type should be rather called "
concrete pillar bridges", as the Romans preferably used
opus caementicium for constructing their bridge piers (stone was confined in these cases to covering). Both types, timber bridges and stone respectively concrete pillar bridges, are listed here in the same category as historically, with the consolidation of Roman power in the newly conquered
provinces, wooden bridges often gave way to solid pillar bridges. == Pontoon bridges ==