South-Crossing Bridge
Year: 2008-2009 - Location: Guayaquil, Ecuador
Bay crossing cable-stayed bridge, 4.095 ft lenght, 4 spans. Reinforced concrete towers, 2 indipendent steel decks.
The SCB is a cable-stayed bridge over the sea supported by 3 r.c. towers and represents the most technically elaborated part of a viaducts system and roads of about 50 km, crucial for Ecuador since it is intended to connect the nation largest port located south of Guayaquil. The SCB, with 4 spans (416 m the longest) and an overall length of 1,248 m, stands out for its unique structural layout, with an Y-shaped pier-tower that allows to place at its sides two separate decks characterized by a width of 22,8 m and built with a steel frame.
To achieve an high level of seismic protection has been chosen the "full suspension" option, with no connections between piers and decks with the exception of seismic dampers, allowing the oscillation of the deck under the effects of the earthquake.
Tags: Bridge, Design, Base isolation, Seismic assessment
