Queen Elizabeth II Bridge

The Queen Elizabeth II Bridge is cable-stayed road bridge across the River Thames in south east England. It was opened in 1991 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II.

Queen Elizabeth II Bridge

Crosses                   River Thames

Locale                     Dartford

Design                    Cable-stayed bridge

Total length            812 m (2,664 ft)

Longest span          450 metres (1,476 ft)

Opening date         30 October 1991

The bridge is the southbound element of the Dartford Crossing, a strategic toll road crossing the half mile wide river east of London. It was built alongside two earlier tunnels under the Thames, which now form the northbound element of the crossing. When it was opened, the bridge was Europe's largest cable-supported bridge. As of 2008 by main span length it is the second largest cable-stayed bridge in the United Kingdom behind the Second Severn Crossing (6m longer and opened in 1996) and the 34th largest cable-stayed bridge in the world.

Specifications

The bridge's main span, the length of road deck between its two main towers (pylons), measures 450 metres (1,476 ft). This together with two 181m outer spans either side gives the bridge an overal suspended road deck length of 812 metres (2,664 ft) metres. The outer spans are also supported underneath by concrete pillars. Connecting with the bridge's road deck joints are the approach roads, elevated on concrete viaducts. The northern elevated approach is 1,052 m (3,451 ft) long, while the southern elevated approach is 1,008 m (3,307 ft) long. The suspended bridge deck when combined together with the approach viaducts forms a total elevated stretch of road 2,872 m (9,423 ft) long. The road deck of the bridge is supported by cables attached to 84 m (276 ft) metre high steel pylons rising above the road deck, standing on top of 53 m (174 ft) metre high concrete piers. These give the bridge an overall height of 137 m (449 ft). The highest point of the road deck rises 65 m (213 ft) above the river, giving a clearance below to shipping of 57.5 m (189 ft) to accommodate all but the largest ocean-going cruise liners (for example the MS Freedom of the Seas is 63.7m tall above the waterline).