The Golden Gate and George Washington bridges are two iconic American examples of suspension bridges, but the longest one in the world is Japan's Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which spans 6,432 feet. One of the world's oldest engineering forms, the suspension bridge is not suitable for every situation.

Economic Advantage

The area spanned by a suspension bridge is very long in proportion to the amount of materials required to construct bridges.

Height Advantage

Built over waterways, suspension bridges can be built high, allowing the passage of tall ships unhindered by the bridge. The Golden Gate bridge has a clearance of 220 feet over the waters of San Francisco Bay at high tide.

Construction Advantage

During construction, temporary central supports do not need to be built, and access to the construction is not required from beneath. This means busy roadways and waterways do not need to be disrupted.

Flexibility Advantages/Disadvantages

Suspension bridges are flexible, which is an advantage until conditions become severe. Instability in extremely turbulent conditions or during strong earthquakes may require temporary closure. In 1940, high winds caused the Tacoma Narrows bridge, near Seattle, Washington, to collapse.

Foundation Disadvantages

When built in soft ground, suspension bridges require extensive and expensive foundation work to combat the effects of the heavy load on foundation towers.

Heavy Loads

Flexibility also becomes a disadvantage when heavy, concentrated loads are involved. Suspension bridges are not generally used for regional rail crossings that carry maximum weight loads, which adds dangerous stress to the structure.

About the Author

Paul Cartmell began his career as a writer for documentaries and fictional films in the United Kingdom in the mid-1990s. Working in documentary journalism, Cartmell wrote about a wide variety of subjects including racism in professional sports. Cartmell attended the University of Lincoln and London Metropolitan University, gaining degrees in journalism and film studies.

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