A record-breaking bridge has opened in a Californian park. Designer TY Lin International said that the 305m-long David Kreitzer Lake Hodges Bicycle/Pedestrian Bridge is the world's longest stress ribbon bridge.
The bridge across Lake Hodges connects two parts of a trail within the San Dieguito River Valley Regional Open Space Park.
A 400mm-thick concrete deck spans just over 100m between supports with depth to span ratio of 1:248. Such a high ratio has been achieved by designing it as a cable-supported bridge with the bearing cables embedded in the concrete deck. The result is a thin ribbon of concrete that minimises the visual impact on the setting.
Construction took place around the March to September breeding season of several endangered bird species. The superstructure was built from precast concrete panels suspended from bearing cables, eliminating the need for falsework in the water.
