Title:
Great Belt Link: The West Bridge
Author(s):
Dietrich L. Hommel and Carsten Fries
Publication:
Concrete International
Volume:
14
Issue:
7
Appears on pages(s):
43-46
Keywords:
bridges (structures); caissons; concrete construction; continuous beams; durability; girder bridges; highway bridges; marine atmosphere; piers; precast concrete; railroad bridges; serviceability; Design
DOI:
Date:
7/1/1992
Abstract:
Describes design and construction of the 6.6-km (4.1-mile) long West Bridge that will carry two railway tracks and two three-lane carriageways across the western channel of Denmark's Great Belt, from the tiny island of Sprogoe to near the existing ferry harbor on the island of Funen. The bridge superstructure is based on two haunched concrete box girders with a span length of 106 m (348 ft). Construction involves large-scale prefabrication onshore and transport and installation offshore to achieve a final structure with the required service life of 100 years. One key item for the construction was the development of a special catamaran crane vessel to place caissons, pier shafts, and girders efficiently and with high precision.