Ting Kau Bridge
Ting Kau Bridge is a long cable-stayed bridge in Hong Kong that spans from the northwest of Tsing Yi Island and Tuen Mun Road. It is near the Tsing Ma Bridge which also serves as a major connector between the Hong Kong International Airport on Lantau Island and the rest of Hong Kong. It was completed on 5 May 1998. The bridge is toll-free. The bridge is part of Route 3, connecting Northwest New Territories with Hong Kong Island. Other major structures on the road include the Tai Lam Tunnel, the Cheung Tsing Tunnel, the  Cheung Tsing Bridge and the Western Harbour Crossing. The Ting Kau Bridge carries the heaviest traffic volume of the bridges on the Lantau Link, with many container trucks travelling between mainland China and the HK container port. A chromatic study and specially designed architectural lighting are intended to set the bridge off in its surroundings. Design. Ting Kau Contractors Joint Venture designed and built Ting Kau Bridge between 1995 and 1998. The joint venture consisted of lead partners Cubiertas Y Mzov (22%) and Entrecanales Y Tavora (22%), both of Spain (now both part of Acciona, S.A); Germany's Ed. Züblin  (22%); Australia's Downer and Co (22%); and Hong Kong's Paul Y(12%). Constructing engineers were Schlaich Bergermann & Partner. The design and construction cost of the bridge was HK$1.94 billion. It is one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the world. Along with the Tsing Ma and Kap Shui Mun bridges, it is closely monitored by the Wind and Structural Health Monitoring System (WASHMS). Ting Kau Bridge is the world's first major 4-span cable-stayed bridge. This meant that the central tower had to be stabilised longitudinally, which was accomplished using the longest cable stays ever used  in a bridge (). The design of this bridge contains special features such as single leg towers, which are stabilised by transverse cables like the masts of a sailboat. The Ting Kau Bridge and approach viaducts link the western New Territories and the mainland to the Lantau Fixed Crossing expressway, which connects the airport to Kowloon and Hong Kong. It meets the Lantau Fixed Crossing on Tsing Yi Island, from the Tsing Ma Bridge. The Ting Kau Bridge and Approach Viaduct are long while the triple tower bridge has an overall length of . The three towers were specially designed to withstand  extreme wind and typhoon conditions, and have heights of , , and , located on the Ting Kau headland, on a reclaimed island in Rambler Channel (which is wide), and on the north-west Tsing Yi shoreline, respectively. The arrangement of separate decks on both sides of the 3 towers contributes to the slender appearance of the bridge while helping it act favourably under heavy wind and typhoon loads. Each deck carries 3 traffic lanes and a hard shoulder.