A precast steel reinforced concrete bridge unit has an arcuate top wall
integrally connecting opposite side walls, and a series of precast
reinforced concrete counterforts are releasably connected to the top wall
of the bridge unit at laterally spaced intervals. The counterforts have
vertical end surfaces spaced from an end surface of the bridge unit, and
end portions of reinforcing bars project from the vertical end surfaces
of the counterforts. An end surface of the bridge unit is located on a
horizontal casting surface, and a reinforced concrete headwall is cast on
the casting surface with the reinforcing bars depending from the
counterforts embedded in the concrete forming the headwall. After curing,
the concrete headwall and counterforts are removed as a unit from the
bridge unit to facilitate handling and shipping of the bridge unit and
headwall and counterfort unit.