The recent completion of
magnificent long-span bridges like the Storebaelt bridge (1624 m) in Denmark or
the
Akashi-Kaikyo bridge (1990 m) in Japan reminds the engineers that they have
to build aesthetical and durable
structures. Long-life span (120 years and
more) is requested for these bridges. One way to meet this demand and keep
these structures alive is certainly to develop a technology with lowmaintenance
costs allowing easy operations without traffic interruption. Replacement of
cables had to be carried out recently on bridges in Argentina (General Belgrano
and Zarate - Brazo Largo bridges) and in France (Tancarville bridge). A huge
programme has been undertaken in the United States. Was the cable technology
used on these structures meeting this requirement ? Will the Williamsburg
suspension cable be replaced one day ? This paper reviews the problems
encountered which had to be solved to replace the cables and proposes a new
concept of structural cables together with a new layout and installation
methods for cable-supported bridges, providing excellent corrosion and fatigue
resistance associated to a low-
maintenance cost.