During　the　last　years,　timber-concrete　composite　(TCC)　structures　have　been　extensively　used　in　Europe　both　in　new　and　existing　buildings.　Generally　speaking,　a　composite　structure　combines　the　advantages　of　both　materials　employed:　the　strength　and　stiffness　of　the　concrete　in　compression　and　the　tensile　strength,　lightweight,　low　embodied　energy,　and　aesthetical　appearance　of　the　timber.　The　concrete　slab　provides　protection　of　the　timber　beams　from　direct　contact　with　water,　which　is　crucial　to　ensure　the　durability　of　the　timber　beams,　particularly　when　used　for　bridges.　Different　types　of　connectors　can　be　used　to　provide　force　exchange　between　the　concrete　slab　and　the　timber　beam.　The　choice　of　a　structurally　effective　yet　cheap　shear　connection　between　the　concrete　topping　and　the　timber　joist　is　crucial　to　make　the　TCC　structures　a　viable　solution　that　can　compete　with　reinforced　concrete　and　steel　structures.　In　this　paper,　the　possibilities　offered　by　TCC　structures　for　short-span　bridge　decks　are　discussed.　The　technology　of　TCC　structures　and　the　general　design　rules　are　illustrated.　Three　case　studies　are　reported,　including　a　short-span　bridge　tested　in　Colorado,　USA,　with　the　timber　layer　being　constructed　from　recycled　utility　poles　and　notch　connection;　a　TCC　bridge　with　glulam　beams　and　triangular　notches　with　epoxy-glued　rebar　connectors　built　in　Portugal;　and　a　TCC　bridge　with　glulam　beams　and　rectangular　notches　built　in　Germany.　All　the　solutions　were　found　to　be　structurally　effective　and　aesthetically　pleasing.　They　can　all　provide　a　sustainable　option　for　short-span　bridges.　©　2018　The　Authors