Cable-stayed bridge Facts for Kids

A cable-stayed bridge, like a harp, over the River Severn

A cable-stayed bridge is a special kind of bridge. It uses tall columns, often called towers or pylons. Strong cables connect directly from these towers to the bridge deck, which is the part you drive or walk on. These cables help hold up the road, making the bridge very strong.

Difference between types of bridges
Suspension bridge
Cable-stayed bridge, fan design
Cable-stayed bridge, harp design

Types of Cable-Stayed Bridges
- Harp Design Bridges
  - How Harp Bridges Work
- Fan Design Bridges
  - How Fan Bridges Work
Why We Build Cable-Stayed Bridges
- Comparing Bridge Types
  - Cable-Stayed vs. Cantilever Bridges
  - Cable-Stayed vs. Suspension Bridges
Good Things About Cable-Stayed Bridges
Things to Consider About Cable-Stayed Bridges
Images for kids
See also

Types of Cable-Stayed Bridges

There are two main ways cable-stayed bridges are designed. These designs change how the cables are attached to the towers.

Harp Design Bridges

How Harp Bridges Work

In the harp design, the cables look a bit like the strings of a harp. They are almost parallel to each other. This happens because each cable connects to a different spot on the tower. The higher a cable connects on the tower, the further away it connects to the bridge deck.

Fan Design Bridges

How Fan Bridges Work

The fan design is different. Here, all the cables meet at or near the very top of the tower. They spread out downwards to connect to different points on the bridge deck, like an open fan.

Why We Build Cable-Stayed Bridges

Cable-stayed bridges are chosen for specific reasons. They are great for spans that are longer than what a cantilever bridge can easily cover. However, they are usually for shorter distances than what a huge suspension bridge needs.

Comparing Bridge Types

Cable-Stayed vs. Cantilever Bridges

Cantilever bridges can become too heavy if they are built for very long distances. Cable-stayed bridges can cover these longer spans without being too heavy.

Cable-Stayed vs. Suspension Bridges

For shorter distances, a cable-stayed bridge is often cheaper to build than a suspension bridge. Suspension bridges need very large anchor points on the ground, which can be expensive.

Good Things About Cable-Stayed Bridges

They are very stiff and strong.
They don't need huge ground anchors like some other bridges.
They often look very modern and impressive.
They can be a good choice for building costs.
Their design is usually well-balanced.

Things to Consider About Cable-Stayed Bridges

They can sometimes sway a bit in strong winds.
Their main support towers are often built in water, which can be a challenge.

Images for kids

The Øresund Bridge connects Malmö in Sweden to Copenhagen in Denmark.
An early chain-stayed bridge design by Fausto Veranzio from the 1500s. Before steel cables, bridges used linked rods or chains.
The Abdoun Bridge in Amman, Jordan, is an example of an extradosed bridge.
The Ada Bridge at dusk in Belgrade, Serbia.
The Prins Clausbrug crosses the Amsterdam-Rhine Canal in Utrecht.
Different ways towers can be arranged on a cable-stayed bridge.
The Puente de la Unidad connects San Pedro Garza García and Monterrey.
The Zhivopisny Bridge in Moscow has a unique multiple-span design.
The Twinkle-Kisogawa is an extradosed design, with long gaps between the cable-supported sections.
The Erasmus Bridge, Erasmusbrug, in Rotterdam, Netherlands.
A view of the Golden Horn Metro Bridge in Istanbul, Turkey, with the Galata Tower nearby.
The Margaret Hunt Hill Bridge over the Trinity River in Dallas, Texas, U.S. (2012).
The Most SNP (Bridge of the Slovak National Uprising) in Bratislava, Slovakia, built between 1967 and 1972.
The Pelješac Bridge connects a part of southeastern Croatia to the rest of the country.
The Rio Negro Bridge, at 3,595 metres (11,795 ft), is the longest cable-stayed bridge in Brazil.