Kap Shui Mun Bridge
Encyclopedia
The Kap Shui Mun Bridge (KSMB) in Hong Kong
is one of the longest cable-stayed bridge
s in the world that transports both road and railway traffic, with the upper deck for motor vehicles, and the lower deck for both vehicles and the MTR
. It has a main span of 430 metres and an overall length of 750 metres. It spans the main marine channel, Kap Shui Mun
, between Ma Wan
and Lantau and provides vertical clearance of 47 metres above sea level
.
The bridge was completed in 1997. The total length of the Kap Shui Mun Bridge includes a 70 m approach span on the Lantau side. A column in each of the back spans of the cable stayed bridge makes four 80 m spans to add to the 430 m main span. This brings the total length to 820 m. The 503 m Ma Wan Viaduct
was constructed under the same contract as the KSMB. The viaduct connects the KSMB to the Tsing Ma Bridge
, thus forming the Lantau Link
that was built to provide access to the new airport. The navigation clearance of 47 m is part of the reason that the H-shaped towers are 150 m tall.
The Kap Shui Mun Bridge is not symmetrical in that the 160 m back span length (80 m + 80 m) is less than half of the main span length (half of 430 m is 215 m). To provide the balance that symmetry will normally provide, the bridge has composite cross sections. The central 387 m of the main span uses steel composite with concrete to make the cross section lighter. The back spans and the remaining main span are concrete cross sections. Using the lighter steel cross section in the majority of the main span serves to equalize the horizontal forces on the towers and balance the bridge.
Because the lower deck carries both rail and traffic, the cross section is designed as a Vierendeel truss. This means that there are no diagonal members in the cross section and that vehicles and rail cars drive through the openings provided by the Vierendiel design.
Along with the Tsing Ma Bridge
and Ting Kau Bridge
, it is closely monitored by the Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System (WASHMS).
Hong Kong
Hong Kong is one of two Special Administrative Regions of the People's Republic of China , the other being Macau. A city-state situated on China's south coast and enclosed by the Pearl River Delta and South China Sea, it is renowned for its expansive skyline and deep natural harbour...
is one of the longest cable-stayed bridge
Cable-stayed bridge
A cable-stayed bridge is a bridge that consists of one or more columns , with cables supporting the bridge deck....
s in the world that transports both road and railway traffic, with the upper deck for motor vehicles, and the lower deck for both vehicles and the MTR
MTR
Mass Transit Railway is the rapid transit railway system in Hong Kong. Originally opened in 1979, the system now includes 211.6 km of rail with 155 stations, including 86 railway stations and 69 light rail stops...
. It has a main span of 430 metres and an overall length of 750 metres. It spans the main marine channel, Kap Shui Mun
Kap Shui Mun
Kap Shui Mun or Throat Gates is a major channel, between Lantau Island and Ma Wan, in Hong Kong. It is part of major sea route along the coast of South China, from Victoria Harbour to the Pearl River. It joins north with Urmston Road...
, between Ma Wan
Ma Wan
Ma Wan is an island of Hong Kong, located between Lantau Island and Tsing Yi Island, with an area of 0.97 km². Administratively, it is part of Tsuen Wan District....
and Lantau and provides vertical clearance of 47 metres above sea level
Sea level
Mean sea level is a measure of the average height of the ocean's surface ; used as a standard in reckoning land elevation...
.
Structural information
- Span Lengths
The bridge was completed in 1997. The total length of the Kap Shui Mun Bridge includes a 70 m approach span on the Lantau side. A column in each of the back spans of the cable stayed bridge makes four 80 m spans to add to the 430 m main span. This brings the total length to 820 m. The 503 m Ma Wan Viaduct
Ma Wan Viaduct
Ma Wan Viaduct is a viaduct built over Ma Wan, an island in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region of the People's Republic of China. The viaduct connects the Tsing Ma Bridge and Kap Shui Mun Bridge, and is part of the Lantau Link and Route 8...
was constructed under the same contract as the KSMB. The viaduct connects the KSMB to the Tsing Ma Bridge
Tsing Ma Bridge
The Tsing Ma Bridge is a bridge in Hong Kong. It is the world's seventh-longest span suspension bridge, and was the second longest at time of completion. The bridge was named after two of the islands at its ends, namely Tsing Yi and Ma Wan . It has two decks and carries both road and rail...
, thus forming the Lantau Link
Lantau Link
The Lantau Link, formerly known as the Lantau Fixed Crossing, is a series of infrastructures linking Hong Kong International Airport to the urban areas in Hong Kong. It was officially opened on 27 April 1997, and it opened to traffic on 22 May the same year.-Infrastructure:The Lantau Link is 3.5 km...
that was built to provide access to the new airport. The navigation clearance of 47 m is part of the reason that the H-shaped towers are 150 m tall.
The Kap Shui Mun Bridge is not symmetrical in that the 160 m back span length (80 m + 80 m) is less than half of the main span length (half of 430 m is 215 m). To provide the balance that symmetry will normally provide, the bridge has composite cross sections. The central 387 m of the main span uses steel composite with concrete to make the cross section lighter. The back spans and the remaining main span are concrete cross sections. Using the lighter steel cross section in the majority of the main span serves to equalize the horizontal forces on the towers and balance the bridge.
Because the lower deck carries both rail and traffic, the cross section is designed as a Vierendeel truss. This means that there are no diagonal members in the cross section and that vehicles and rail cars drive through the openings provided by the Vierendiel design.
- Stay cables
Number 8 X 22 = 176 Total length of stay cables 11 km
- Movements
| Vertical, at midspan | 470mm |
| Lateral, at midspan | 155mm |
| Longitudinal, at Pier 1 | 320mm |
- Concrete strength of towers: Grade 50/20 or 50MPa
Along with the Tsing Ma Bridge
Tsing Ma Bridge
The Tsing Ma Bridge is a bridge in Hong Kong. It is the world's seventh-longest span suspension bridge, and was the second longest at time of completion. The bridge was named after two of the islands at its ends, namely Tsing Yi and Ma Wan . It has two decks and carries both road and rail...
and Ting Kau Bridge
Ting Kau Bridge
Ting Kau Bridge is a 1,177-metre long cable-stayed bridge in Hong Kong that spans from the northwest of Tsing Yi Island and Tuen Mun Road. It is adjacent to Tsing Ma Bridge which also serves as major connector between the Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island and the rest of Hong Kong....
, it is closely monitored by the Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System (WASHMS).