Bridge Engineering Practice Test

Water on a bridge deck must have an outlet to exit, preventing ponding and damage. A vertical opening through the deck or parapet that serves this purpose is called a bridge scupper. It provides a direct path for water to drain from the deck to the exterior or to an underdeck drainage system, especially along the edge of the structure.

The other terms describe different things: sheet system and liquid system waterproofing refer to methods for sealing the deck surface to prevent water ingress, not to provide an outlet for drainage. A trough is a channel that collects and conveys water, usually along the deck, toward an outlet, but it is not the vertical opening itself. Therefore, the term that best describes the vertical drainage opening is the bridge scupper.