Longest span network arch bridge

The longest network arch bridge is the Bugrinsky Bridge, which spans the Ob River in Novosibirsk, Russia. The main span of the Bugrinsky Bridge measures 380 m (1,246 ft) from one pier to another. Designed by Institute Stroyproekt and built by Sibmost ZAO, the road bridge was opened on 8 October 2014 by President Vladimir Putin

A network arch bridge is a tied arch bridge with inclined hangers that cross each other at least twice. When the hangers are tensioned, the bridge then performs more like a truss than a conventional arch bridge. This means that compared with a conventional arch bridge, the arch can be flatter, both arch and the deck can be lighter and slenderer, and the whole bridge can be stiffer so that it deflects less under loading– a big advantage with rail bridges. Also, as a ‘tied arch’ (with the thrust from the arches resisted by tension in the deck rather than by large abutments) even large spans can be prefabricated offsite and lifted into place. Network arch bridges were invented by young Norwegian engineer Per Tveit in the 1950s but took time to catch on, due partly to the difficulties of analysing the forces in a pre-computer age and partly to the practical difficulties of stressing each cable to the required tension. The first in Britain was the Ordsall Chord rail bridge in Manchester, opened in 2017.

The bow-like arch of the Bugrinsky Bridge is painted red and fitted with decorative flourishes at either end to match the traditional tartar bow on the coat of arms of the city of Novosibirsk.