Originally Posted by
Capot
....failing to notice that throughout the word "apron" had been translated into "tablier".
You're excused..... it's not entirely wrong.
From Wikipedia:
"Le tablier est la partie qui supporte les voies de circulation sur un pont . C'est la partie en caillebotis d'un passage surélevé."
It's also used more generally to designate a road-bed, and so would be valid for the 'bed' put in place before putting down the asphalt or concrete for the top coat of the apron itself.
It occasionally amazes me how "poor" languages are really in terms of words...
So many words are "re-used" for different concepts, sometimes literally, sometimes figuratively, and even more often in specialist jargon.
In our own language, we usually sort them out from context... but the moment you try to translate, you're in trouble....
A "chémin de fer" is not an "iron path", it's not even a "rail track", it's a "railway". (OK, overly simplified example, but you'll find the same everywhere.)
Amazingly, the Google translation program is slowly but steadily getting more and more of it right.
CJ