Special compound cross girders extend beyond the edge of the deck to the outboard attachment point. The cables are housed in tubes which feature spiral ribbing to avoid wind or rain induced cable vibration. Aesthetically, one of the most significant features is the aluminium cladding of the entire structure to give a clean appearance to the sides and lower surface. This allowed the design of the structural steel to focus on simplicity, economy and constructability rather than appearance. Specially designed lighting also adds to the finished appearance, both above and below the deck and on the towers, where coloured lights form a visual feature at night.
Lighting also pays special attention to light levels in transition areas from shade to full sun.
Extensive consultation Design and construction of such a complex project involved extensive consultation. Initial design parameters took account of diverse stakeholders including the airlines, private vehicles and pedestrians, taxi, bus operators, rental car companies and police. Formal meetings and paperwork were a key success factor. During the design phase there were regular coordination meetings between the engineers, the client and various consultants. Construction was similarly subject to shift coordination meetings, aided by a computer scheduling package.