Nanjing No. 3 Yangtze River Bridge Wins Prestigious Gustav Lindenthal Medal
World's Third-largest Cable Stayed Bridge Crossing Honored by Bayer MaterialScience at Annual International Bridge Conference
PITTSBURGH, June 4, 2007 - Today, the Nanjing No. 3 Yangtze River Bridge in Nanjing, China, was awarded the Gustav Lindenthal Medal for its "combination of efficiency and aesthetic charm." This prestigious award, sponsored by Bayer MaterialScience LLC, was presented to the Construction Command Office of Nanjing No. 3 Yangtze River Bridge, owner of the bridge, by Richard Sabatine, senior vice president, Coatings, Adhesives and Sealants - NAFTA, Bayer MaterialScience.
Other major contributors in the construction and design of the world's third-largest cable stayed bridge crossing include China Highway Planning and Design Institute Consultants, Inc. and the Hunan Road and Bridge Construction Corporation.
Construction of the five-span, steel-box girder, cable-stayed bridge began in 2004. In addition to its functionality, the Nanjing No. 3 Yangtze River Bridge incorporates symbolic elements into its design. Three cross struts within the towers signify that this bridge is the third crossing of the Yangtze River, counting up from the river's mouth. Also, the placement of 705-foot pylons suggests a connection to the Chinese character for "human."
Each visually striking pylon is constructed of both reinforced concrete in its lower regions and structural steel at its higher regions. Based on extensive wind studies conducted to control galloping and vortex vibration, tuned mass dampers were utilized to control vibration of the pylons as they were erected.
The bridge's deep water foundations were designed using a new concept - a dumb-bell shaped, double-walled floating steel cofferdam, in which 30 bored piles were integrated with cast-in-place concrete to form a single foundation. The six-lane, nine-mile bridge, which has a main span of 2,100 feet, features a steel orthotropic deck paved with an epoxy asphalt surface.
"As suggested by the shape of its pylons, this impressive structure is a tribute to the human spirit," said Sabatine. "Bayer is pleased to recognize such an impressive architectural and engineering achievement with this prestigious award."
One of five esteemed awards given annually at the International Bridge Conference, the Gustav Lindenthal Medal was created in 1999 to honor a recent outstanding achievement that best demonstrates innovation together with aesthetic merit, harmony with the environment, or successful community participation.
Gustav Lindenthal was one of America's most celebrated bridge engineers, and is widely admired for his vision and foresight during the technology boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Participants of the International Bridge Conference can enjoy a spectacular example of Lindenthal's work. The Smithfield Street Bridge - a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark and National Historic Landmark - is a double lenticular truss spanning the Monongahela River. Completed in 1883 as Pittsburgh's first river bridge, it remains a popular passage today, serving more than 18,000 commuters.
Bayer MaterialScience LLC is one of the leading producers of polymers and high-performance plastics in North America and is part of the global Bayer MaterialScience business with nearly 14,900 employees at 30 sites around the world and 2006 sales of 10.2 billion euros from continuing operations. Our innovative developments in coatings, adhesive and sealant raw materials, polycarbonates, polyurethanes and thermoplastic urethane elastomers enhance the design and functionality of products in a wide variety of markets, including the automotive, construction, electrical and electronics, household and medical industries, and the sports and leisure fields. Our inorganic basic chemicals unit produces chlorine and related essential products for the chemicals industry. Let us give life to your vision. Bayer MaterialScience - Where VisionWorks.
Bayer Corporation, headquartered in Pittsburgh, is a subsidiary of Bayer AG, an international health care, nutrition and innovative materials group based in Leverkusen, Germany. In North America, Bayer had 2006 net sales of 7.8 billion euros and employed 17,200 at year end. Bayer's three subgroups, Bayer HealthCare, Bayer CropScience and Bayer MaterialScience, improve people's lives through a broad range of essential products that help diagnose, prevent and treat diseases; protect crops and enhance yields; and advance automobile safety and durability. Bayer AG stock is a component of the DAX and is listed on the New York Stock Exchange (ticker symbol: BAY).
