Messina Strait Bridge - Towers

The 380 m tall main towers comprise approximately 108500 tonnes of structural steel and so their optimization is vital to managing overall construction costs. Optimization of the tower design begins with an understanding of the applied loads and the effects they have on the tower components. Reducing material quantities and fabrication costs requires the use of high strength steels and optimization of the longitudinal and transverse stiffening arrangements. This paper describes the primary design considerations and optimizations that were completed as part of the Progetto Definitivo.