bridge conveyor

Bridge Conveyor is a specialized conveyor block that automatically spans gaps and obstacles by creating short bridge sections when placed or when conveyors are drag-placed over impassable terrain. It functions as a conveyor for transporting items like other conveyor types but is intended primarily to cross spaces where normal conveyors cannot be built.

Bridge Conveyors are placed like other conveyor blocks and participate in conveyor networks, but they have placement-specific behaviors: when drag-placing conveyor lines, the game will attempt to space each Bridge Conveyor (except the final one) three tiles apart to form a continuous bridged path across obstacles. If a non-Plastanium Conveyor is being drag-placed in a building plan and Bridge Conveyor is researched and allowed on the current map, eligible obstacles dragged over will automatically receive Bridge Conveyors to complete the connection. Bridge Conveyors cannot be directly linked to Phase Conveyors; Phase Conveyors and Bridge Conveyors are incompatible and will not form a connected network between each other.

Bridge Conveyors have evolved in cost and build speed across updates. They were added in an early build and later balance changes adjusted their resource cost and build time: the block’s copper and lead costs were increased and build time raised in one update, then reverted to lower costs and faster build time in a subsequent build.

Practical notes and tactics:

• Use Bridge Conveyors to cross ravines, chasms, or other map-blocked tiles without relying on walls or additional structures.
• When drag-placing long runs, expect automatic spacing behavior that places interim bridge pieces three tiles apart; plan routes accordingly to avoid unexpected gaps near the end of the drag.
• Bridge Conveyors are useful in tight or choke locations where space is limited; lining multiple Bridge Conveyors in sequence can produce high effective throughput if unobstructed — players have achieved very high item move speeds by stacking consecutive Bridge Conveyors in an open line.
• Remember the incompatibility with Phase Conveyors when designing transport networks; if you need phase routing, convert connected sections to Phase Conveyors rather than attempting to join them directly.
• Ensure Bridge Conveyor is researched and not banned on the sector map before expecting automatic placement during drag-building plans.