Balancing Act

The cable-stayed $69 million Glebe Island Bridge in Sydney was built using a combination of one rolling frame and one form traveler instead of a more orthodox two or four form traveler system. The bridge replaced a 1906 swing bridge and was completed well in advance of the 2000 Olympic Games. The 799 m bridge was built one half at a time as the form traveler and rolling frame were shipped across Johnstons Bay to complete the installation. The system added extra stabilization to the bridge during construction and cut down on the amount of equipment needed to build the bridge. Two concrete 120 m diamond towers support the continuous six-span deck via bundles of 15.7 mm cable.