The Normandy Bridge at Le Havre

Innovation:

The Normandy Bridge at Le Havre - Honfleur (France)

Year:

1996

Description:

The Normandy Bridge is the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It was built near the mouth of the Seine river to relieve the Tancarville bridge and open Western France to traffic. To not impede shipping traffic, the 856 metres of the channel's width was crossed in a single span 52 metres above the highest water level. The site's large area of alluvial terrain offers no natural anchorage points and is swept by strong winds. In light of these parameters, the cable-stayed bridge was considered to offer the best technical and economical solution because it provided better wind stability and was less costly than a suspension bridge.
This cable stayed bridge is designed to resemble two huge scales, the axes of which are the towers. The central cable plys carry the weight of the deck and the roadways and transfer the loads to the towers. Each staying cable may be removed individually without interrupting traffic.
All structural decisions reached for the bridge aimed at improving aerodynamics, and the streamlined deck was subjected to a long series of tests in a wind tunnel to ensure its structural stability. To prevent cables from striking against each another, a system of transverse cables, called "damping ropes" were installed to attenuate and reduce cable movements. Dampers are also located at the base of the longest cables (440 metres).

Related Standards:

Contact Person:

M. Claude Gross --- Not Current

Organization:

Chambre du Commerce du Havre

Address:

BP 1410

76067 Le Havre

City:

State/Province:

France

Postal Code:

Country:

USA

Phone No.:

35552600

FAX:

URL:

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This page last updated 05/15/02 by RICarr