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Bridges are commonly subjected to complex load scenarios in their lifetime. Understanding the response of bridges under such load scenarios is important to ensure their safety. While static and dynamic loads from vehicles and pedestrians influence the instantaneous response of bridges, studies show that thermal load from diurnal and seasonal temperature variation influences its long-term response and durability. This study addresses the effects of thermal load variation on bridges and briefly reviews methods of measuring such effects. The findings show that thermally induced deformations in bridges are of magnitude equal or larger than that induced by vehicle induced load. This study highlights the significance of measuring temperature responses of bridges for their robust structural health monitoring.