The first skewed, unbraced network tied-arch bridge in the United States has been officially opened.
The Second Avenue Bridge over the I-94 freeway in Detroit is an engineering marvel, according to the Michigan Department of Transportation, and represents the state’s first network tied-arch bridge. The bridge’s designer, HDR, says it is the first of its kind in the U.S.
Its construction was also an engineering feat. It was built near its new home and then slid into place after the original bridge built in 1954 was demolished. Check out this MDOT time-lapse video of the 5-million-pound bridge’s move in July 2022:
Instead of vertical cables, the bridge consists of 30 steel cables in a diagonal, crisscrossed “network” configuration for each of the two arches. The bridge was designed that way for additional support because it does not have a center pier.
Other uncommon design features:
