LONG-SPAN BRIDGES: STATE-OF-THE-ART

Much progress has been made in recent years in the art of long-span bridge design and construction. Modern long-span bridges tend to have a more graceful appearance, a breakaway from the traditional shapes, and an economical, light structure resulting in savings in material and labor. In the future, the possible introduction of new materials, the improvement in fabrication and erection techniques (as well as in analytical theories and methods), and the development of new forms of bridges may not only make it possible to increase the maximum span lengths further, but also to produce more economical, more graceful, and almost maintenance-free structures. Also included are lists of all major long-span bridges according to bridge types, giving the span lengths, years of completion, special features, and other information.