Spreading suspension cable at the Rhinebridge Emmerich, Germany

The Rhinebridge Emmerich of 1962 is a suspension bridge, with two 77 m high steel pylons, and 500 m long. The suspending cables consist of 61 parallel locked coil strands. The hangers are fixed to the suspension package by an iron cast saddle-clamp each. Corrosion products had spilled from the inside of the suspension cable at the lowest point. In order to investigate the corrosion of the cable in the interior, the suspension cable was opened under terms of running traffic using a special device with grippers. As a result, the strands of the cable could have been inspected all around. It was found, that the more than 50 years old strands are in very good condition. After documentation the strands have been cleaned, coated and lead back into the suspension package. The old saddle-clamp was fixed again and suspension cables were replaced.