Tsing Ma Bridge Guide, Meaning , Facts, Information and Description
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2 Characteristics of its design 3 As a tourist sight 4 Five Major Components in the Construction 5 See also 6 External link |
Brief Introduction
The Tsing Ma Bridge (青馬大橋) is the world's longest suspension bridge, carrying both road and rail traffic, with a main span 1,377 metres (4,518 ft) and a height of 206 metres, c.a. 300 ft longer than the famous Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco. The 40m-wide bridge deck has two carriageways on the upper level, each of three lanes, for road traffic, and the lower level contains two rail tracks and two protected emergency lanes for road traffic. There are also two sheltered carriageways on the lower deck for maintenance access and as backup for traffic when there is a typhoon. The contruction cost is HK$7.2 billion and it took 57 months to construct.
The Tsing Ma Bridge is one of the three long span bridges linking the New Territories in Hong Kong with the Island of Chep Lap Kok, where the Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) is located. The other two bridges are the Kap Shui Mun Bridge and the Ting Kau Bridge.It connects Tsing Yi and Ma Wan Islands in Hong Kong.
Characteristics of its design
Construction began in May 1992 and was completed in May 1997. The Lantau Link was opened on April 27, 1997, and was inaugurated by the former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher.As it is a major channel connecting the urban areas and the airport, it is important to know about its traffic conditions to inform about the public what traffic is preferable to take. Survelience TV is up at the Tsing Ma bridge and the current traffic condition is sent through satellite to the government website.The situation is updated every two seconds.
Since it is the main component of the Lantau Link, the only vehicular exit and entrance to Chek Lap Kok, if it is closed to both road traffic and trains, passengers will be put to suffer great inconvenience. Therefore, the bridge is designed to handle windspeeds of up to 290 kph. Nevertheless, its strength has only to be tested in real weather conditions. A No. 8 signal was raised as Typhoon Victor hit Hong Kong in August of 1997. That was the first and only time the bridge has been closed.
As a tourist sight
Tsing Ma Bridge becomes a favourite scenic spot as well as a famous landmark,especially with its neon lights on at night. The Tsing Yi Trunkroute Viewing Terrace to the northwest of Tsing Yi Isle and the Visiting Guest Centre are places for watching and familiarizing with the Tsing Ma Bridge with entertainment. The model, pictures and the structure of the Tsing Yu trunkroute are on display in the Visiting guest Centre. Parking is prohibited on the Tsing Ma Gigantic Bridge.From the Scenery Viewing Terrace, one can see the Ting Kau Bridge and Kap Shui Man Bridge. These three bridges have been listed as the world's "Three Mosts".
2.Anchorages - the pulling forces in the main suspension cables is taken up by large gravity anchorages located at both ends of the bridge. They are massive concrete structures deeply seated on bedrock on the landside of Tsing Yi and Ma Wan island. The total weight of concrete used in the two anchorages is about 300,000 tonnes.
3.Main cables - The cables were constructed by an aerial spinning process. The process involved drawing wires from a constant-tension supply, and pulling loops of these wires from one anchorage to the other, passing a 500-tonne cast-iron saddle on top of each bridge tower seating the cable. A total of 70,000 galvanised wires of 5.38 mm diameter were placed and adjusted to form the 1.1 m diameter main cable.
4.Suspended deck - The steelwork for the deck structure was fabricated in Britain and Japan. After delivery, they were further processed and assembled in Dongguan of China into standard deck modules. A total of 96 modules, each 18 m long and about 480 tonnes in weight, were prepared. These deck modules were brought to the site by specially designed barges and raised into the deck position by a pair of strand jack gantries that could manoeuvre along the main cable.
5.Approach span on Tsing Yi side - similar in form and cross-section to the suspended deck, but the approach span was supported on piers instead of cable-support. The first span was assembled on the ground and raised into position using strand jacks. Further erection then proceeded in cantilever in smaller sections, using derrick cranes stationed on the deck level. An expansion joint which allowed for a maximum thermal movement of 850 mm was also provided and located inside the approach span section.
This is an Article on Tsing Ma Bridge. Page Contains Information, Facts Details or Explanation Guide About Tsing Ma Bridge Five Major Components in the Construction
1.Foundations and the construction of the bridge tower - one tower located on Tsing Yi side and the other on a man-made island 120 m from the coast of Ma Wan Island. Both towers are 206m above sea level and founded on relatively shallow bedrock. The towers are two-legged with trusses at intervals, in the form of portal beam design. The legs were constructed with high-strength concrete of 100 MPa strength, using a slipform system in a continuous operation. See also
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