The world’s fifth longest cable-stayed bridge was put through its paces by Halcrow checking engineers before it opened for use in October 2009.
Stretching over 12km from mainland South Korea to Yeongjong Island, the £1 billion Incheon Bridge is the longest in the country. Its cable-stayed section is 800m long with a 230m supporting tower, and is designed to withstand seismic activity, hurricanes and impact from 100,000 tonne ships.
The bridge, which carries a six-lane motorway, is primarily intended to link the booming New Songdo City in the mainland’s Incheon free economic zone with Incheon International Airport – built on reclaimed land connecting Yeongjong and Yongu islands.
Halcrow led the bridge-checking project as part of a joint-venture team with Arup and local consultant Dasan. As well as undertaking parallel design analysis and verification to maintain the fast-track programme, the team reviewed all key design reports and certified the permanent and major temporary works. Client Samsung received technical evaluation of any proposed design changes or refinements.
Within the joint-venture team Halcrow took on specific responsibility for the analysis, geotechnics, substructure, pylons and aerodynamics of the cable-stayed bridge, along with analysis, geotechnics, substructure and superstructure of the approach bridge.