The Forth BridgeFirth of Forth, Scotland

By Christina Hui

and Lisa Winter

Firth of Tay Bridge

-Sir Thomas Bouch

-85 spans

-collapsed

December 28, 1879

-70 deaths

-vertical columns not sufficiently braced to withstand lateral wind pressure

Benjamin Baker-1840-1907- Experienced with iron and railroads- Involved in construction of Victoria Station London 1861- Heavy involvement in developing London Tube Lines- Consulting Engineer Aswan Dam 1894-1902

hinges

caisson

Quebec Bridge

The following table ranks the world’s largest cantilever bridges with spans over 350 meters.

Rank

Bridge Centre Span (m) Country Year Completed

1 Quebec 549 m. (1800 ft.) Canada 1918

2 Forth 521 m. (1710 ft.) Scotland 1890

Scientific: steel cantilever truss; longest span at its time; clear load path

Social: Easy way to travel from south of Scotland to north of England; tourism

Symbolic: restored faith in bridge building; inspired artwork