Stonecutters Bridge – durability, maintenance and safety considerations

Stonecutters Bridge, currently under construction in Hong Kong with a main span of 1018 m, will become one of the longest span cable-stayed bridges in the world. It will be the first major bridge situated in the urban area of Hong Kong, with Victoria Harbour as the backdrop. The design contains a number of significant aesthetic features, primarily the circular mono-column towers with a metallic look at the upper part, and the steel twin box deck structure. Durability, maintenance and safe operation are undoubtedly amongst the major considerations in the design. In view of the prominence of the bridge, it is important to maintain the aesthetic qualities throughout its 120-year design life. It is a challenge for the bridge engineers to achieve this without jeopardising the operation and the structural performance of the bridge. This paper describes the durability, maintenance and safety considerations for the bridge.