Messina Strait Bridge – Bridge Articulation

The Messina Strait Bridge will span the Messina Strait between Calabria and Sicilia with a single suspended span of 3.300 m and will be longest suspension bridge in the world when constructed. The bridge carries four marked vehicle lanes, two emergency lanes and two rail lines. This paper describes the bridge articulation system completed as part of the Progetto Definitivo. The bridge articulation system comprises expansion joints, bearings, hydraulic buffers and related support structures. This paper focuses on the hydraulic buffers connecting the suspended deck and the towers.