Engineer Explains How the World’s Longest Suspension Bridge Will Be Built | WSJ

Italy’s parliament has finally approved a plan to build the world’s longest suspension bridge between Sicily and the mainland, an area prone to 170 mph winds, powerful riptides and earthquakes.

This suspension bridge across the Strait of Messina will be 2.2 miles long and include two gigantic towers, each 100 feet taller than New York’s Empire State Building. The project could employ 100,000 people in the area and help revitalize Italy’s economically struggling south.

WSJ explains Italy’s technical plans for the bridge, and the engineering developments that may make it feasible.

Chapters:
0:00 Italy’s project
0:44 The problems
1:37 The bridge
2:53 The fault line challenge
3:55 The wind challenge

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[azahel]

I understand birds colliding with skyscrapers because of the glass and all that, but how does a bird collide with a bridge?

[marcoschepis]

0:14-0:18 What kind of place is that??? Is that supposed to be a Sicilian town? I'm Sicilian and I've NEVER seen anything like that.. Please be careful next time

[SuperD]

0.13-0.17 I do t know where you took that picture but south italy isnt a slum

[vati]

Not sure I understand the concerns for the birds. Can’t they just fly above or below it?

[caevans]

The Tacoma Narrows example might be a bit misleading. It was not a great example of potential damage due to the speed of the wind, which was only 42mph (67kph) at the time. The wind speed wasn't the issue as much as it was the structure of the bridge that allowed a harmonic resonance to build up within the structure that amplified the frequency of the wind's effect on the bridge, thus causing its collapse. The old trusses were a more rectangular, flat plate design. The replacement bridge used tapered, triangular trusses that improved the wind flow across it, much like what this design uses. I think this bridge's challenge isn't as much the constant high speed of the wind, as it will be the gusts or rapid changes in the speed of the wind. The deck and tower flexibilities will greatly assist in this regard. It will be a great feat of engineering to be sure!

[italiastoria]

The shot at 0:15 is from Sicily? Sure it does not look like it: the landscape is definetely not sicilian

[annaciof]

Can someone clarify where did the WSJ took the images with some sort of slums to show case the "economically depressed southern regions" ?

[herzogsbuick]

While wind was the proximate cause of the Tacoma Narrows failure, the direct cause was the resonances within the bridge itself. It's not like the wind knocked it over; it played it like a fiddle. Way different from surviving 170mph winds in the strait.

[HeresTheGenZFlorentineFolks.]

I'm northen Italian but i'm so exited for this awesome infrastructure. It's a milestone! ⚜️🇮🇹🇪🇺

[i_vanni]

There isn’t any place in Italy like the first images of this video. Where did you went?

[jernejkolar]

Add the metric measurements so the rest of the world can understand.

[HrHaakon]

This is a really cool project. I hope it goes off successfully, as it would be a marvel to behold.

[rubenvanluijk]

I'm sorry but this is a mediocre storyline with nice graphics:
1. As other pointed out, the first images do not appear to be in Italy.
2. The Tacoma bridge did not collapse due to strong winds (only 64km/h), but because of resonance.
3. You cannot simply state that birds are affected by a bridge without supporting evidence. How would birds be affected by static objects such as bridges? Which experts state this?
4. I would have liked an explanation into how this bridge would improve the economic situation of southern Italy, as I would not expect this to be a golden solution.

[bbenjoe]

1:30 - the Tacoma bridge had a faulty design.

[glennalexon]

At 2:25, you said that the 2.2 mile bridge would take ten minutes to cross by car; that's 12 miles per hour. Math matters, WSJ.

[JourneywithSmee]

Humber Bridge: “oh please hold my pint” 😂

[DP-hyvh]

The openings in the median of the bridge deck is similar to the center lane grates on Mackinac Bridge in Michigan. This design was adopted after the collapse of the Tacoma Narrows Bridge to prevent high winds from rocking the bridge deck to the point of collapse.

[shahsuvar]

It is not "Kanakale bridge" by the way. It is pronounced as «Chanak kaleh"...

[LOLERXP]

Stellan Skarsgard is really versitile!

[ReaperOfSouls]

but what are those shacks at the beginning of the video?? certainly not Italy