Cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge

A cantilever spar cable-stayed bridge is a modern variation of the cable-stayed bridge. This design has been pioneered by the architect Santiago Calatrava. An example of this type is the Puente del Alamillo. In two of his designs the force distribution does not depend solely upon the cantilever action of the spar; the angle of the spar away from the bridge and the weight distribution in the spar serve to reduce the overturning forces applied to the footing of the spar. In contrast, in his swinging Puente de la Mujer design the spar reaches toward the cable supported deck and is counterbalanced by a structural tail.

Of this type by Santiago Calatrava

• Puente del Alamillo Seville, Spain, 1992 (backward cantilever)
• Puente de la Mujer Buenos Aries, Argentina, 2002 (forward cantilever with gate-swing opening)
• Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay Redding CA, USA, 2004 (backward cantilever with glass decking)
• Chords Bridge Jerusalem, Israel, opened 2008, won't be operative until at least 2011 (single-sided angled cantilever)
• Samuel Beckett Bridge Dublin, Ireland, opened 10 December 2009 (single-sided forward curved bow, evoking a harp)

Others of this type

- Opened in 2003, the Puente Atirantado (sometimes called Puente de la Unidad or Viaducto de la Unidad) is a cable-stayed bridge that crosses the Río Santa Catarina and joins San Pedro Garza García with Monterrey. Although impressive and elegant, its construction was highly controversial due to its cost, its design (very...
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