OVERVIEW AND DEVELOPMENT OF PC CABLE-STAYED BRIDGES

IN MALAYSIA
Dato’ Prof. Ir. Dr.Wahid bin Omara, Ir. Mohamad Razali bin Othmanb
a
Deputy General Director 1 PWD Malaysia Hq., MALAYSIA
Professor, School of Civil Engineering, Putra University, MALAYSIA
b
Director of Road Branch, PWD Malaysia Hq., MALAYSIA

ABSTRACT: Cable-stayed Bridges have gained significant importance in recent years due to
their economic advantages, adaptability to regions with difficult access, aesthetic and also due
to their minimal impact on environmentally sensitive terrain during the construction phase.
In Malaysia, the first cable-stayed bridge was constructed in 1972 and located on the outskirts
of Kota Kinabalu and formed the main access to the Yayasan Sabah Building. This was
followed by the Penang Bridge.
Present development of cable-stayed bridges in Malaysia is becoming more important and
popular where the Malaysia Government through the Public Works Department and other
departments is constructing a number of cable-stayed bridges.

1.0 Introduction

Major engineering development in the field of the cable-stayed structures takes place in recent
years. The most spectacular achievement is the completion of the longest cable-stayed bridge in
the world: - the Tatara Bridge in Japan, with a main span of 890m. This is because of their
economic advantages, their adaptability to regions with difficult access, their aesthetic form and
also their minimal impact on environment sensitive terrain during construction.

1.1 History of Cable-Stayed Bridges

Cable-stayed bridges can be traced back to the early 1600’s when Verantius, a noted Venetian
carpenter, built a timber bridge with several chain stays. In 1784 C.J Loscher from Fribourg in
Swizerland, again a carpenter by trade developed this idea and used only stays to construct a
32m span bridge made wholly of timber, including the stay. Further development began in 1817
with the English engineers Redpath and Brown, who designed the King Meadow footbridge
with a span of 33.6m.
After stoppage for a long period because of the collapse of two cable-stayed bridges in 1818 and
1824, the cable-stayed bridges revived in 1938 by F.Dischinger, a German engineer. In 1955,
F.Dischinger designed the Strömsund Bridge, which is the first modern cable-stayed bridge in
the world (Figure 1).

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Figure 1: Strömsund Bridge, Sweden, 1955, designed by Dischinger

Currently, the 890m Tatara Bridge in Japan completed in 1999 is the longest span cable-stayed
bridge in the world.
In Malaysia the development of cable-stayed bridges started in 1972 in Sabah, followed by the
Penang Bridge in 1985 (currently the longest bridge in Malaysia) and the Motorola Interchange
of Lebuh Raya Damansara-Puchong in 1998.
The development of cable-stayed bridge in this country is becoming more popular with a few
projects under construction such as the Muar Bridge, Putrajaya bridges and Sungai Perai Bridge
which is part of the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) project.
Malaysia will continue to develop this system. Projects like the bridge linking Sumatera Island,
Indonesia and Singapore are the probable candidates.

2.0 Past Development Of Cable-stayed Bridges In Malaysia

2.1 Yayasan Sabah Bridge

The first cable-stayed bridge in Malaysia was constructed in 1972. It had a total length of 140m
with a central span of 85m(Figure 2).

Figure 2 : Yayasan Sabah Bridge

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The bridge was located on the outskirts of Kota Kinabalu and formed the main access to the
Yayasan Sabah Building. The deck was originally 4.8m wide and was later widened to 6.9m. It
made use of steel girders with reinforced concrete deck construction.

2.2 Penang Bridge

The longest cable-stayed structure in Malaysia is the Penang Bridge linking Penang Island to the
mainland. This 13.5km bridge was opened to traffic in September 1985. The cable-stayed spans
have a total length of 440m comprising of 225m central span and 107.5m side spans. These
spans can accommodate six traffic lanes within the width of 29.7m. The deck is of reinforced
concrete. The vertical clearance at the central span is 33m and the tower height is 97.5m above
the sea level. (Fig. 3a & 3b)

Figure 3a : Pylons and Cables of Penang Bridge

Figure 3b : Penang Bridge

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2.3 Motorola Interchange

The cable-stayed bridge at the Motorola Interchange crossing the Federal Highway is a part of
the Lebuhraya Damansara Puchong, a privatized 40KM tolled expressway built by the
concession company Lingkaran Trans Kota Sdn. Bhd. (LITRAK) (Fig. 4)
The cable-stayed bridge has a two-pylon system rising to a height of 34m spaced at 85m apart.
The main span is 85m with the tie back spans of 35m each. The deck is a composite system of
reinforced concrete slab 250mm, two edge beams that are post-tensioned and steel diaphragms.
The stays are arranged in two parallel planes which provide stability for eccentric loading of the
deck. The total width of the deck is 18m. It was opened to traffic in 1999.

Figure 4 : Motorola Interchange (During Construction in 1998)

3.0 Current Development Of Cable-stayed Bridges In Malaysia

There are several major viaducts or bridges under construction in Malaysia, particularly around
PUTRAJAYA, the Administrative Township of the Federal Government.

3.1 Sungai Perai Bridge

Sungai Perai Bridge is located in Penang at the northern part of Peninsular Malaysia. This bridge
is part of the Butterworth Outer Ring Road (BORR) project.

The main bridge comprises of 185m main span with three balancing spans of 50m on either side.
The 185m span is a cable-stayed structure with two towers located at the median. The tower is
approximately 40m above the deck. The deck is stayed by a single plane of cables on the deck
centerline.

This project is implemented on a design-and-build contract where the main contractor is

Lingkaran Luar Butterworth Sdn. Bhd and the design consultant is Perunding Jurutera D.A.H
Sdn. Bhd.

The work is in progress and the completion date is in June 2003. Figure 5 shows an artist’s
impression of the Perai Bridge.

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Figure 5 : Artist’s Impression On Sungai Perai Bridge

3.2 Bridge Over Sungai Muar

The bridge over the Muar River is part of the new link to bypass the town of Muar. This bridge
will be a major landmark of Muar Town.

The 632m long cable-stayed bridge with cast insitu concrete box girder has a central span of
132m. The bridge will have two pylons 30m high from the deck. The approaches consist of one
24m span, one 34m span and six 32m spans on each side.

This project is implemented based on a design-and-build contract where the main contractor is
Ranhill Corporation Sdn. Bhd. The work is in progress and the completion date is in February
2004.

Figure 6 show on the artist’s impression of the Sungai Muar Bridge.

Figure 6 : Artist’s Impression On Sungai Muar Bridge

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3.3 Jambatan Seri Wawasan (Precinct 2)

This cable-stayed bridge will be a landmark in Putrajaya. The main link between Precinct 2 at
the Core Island and the residential areas of Precinct 8, the Seri Wawasan Bridge will be an
important link to the Mixed Development Precinct

Figure 7 shows an artist’s impression of the Jambatan Seri Wawasan.

Figure 7 : Artist’s Impression Of Jambatan Seri Wawasan

The concept of Jambatan Seri Wawasan is an asymmetric cable stayed box girder bridge with a
pylon 96 meter high and inclined forward at an angle of 75°. The bridge spans across a 168.5m
wide water body over the man-made lake in the Putrajaya development. The vertical elevation of
the bridge has allowed a maximum navigational clearance of 9m above the high water level. The
overall length of the bridge between the two abutments is 240 meter.

The bridge deck consists of a 3.5 meter deep prestressed concrete box girder spine and two
prestressed concrete ribbed wings with typical spacing of 5.0 meter and two 1.5 meter deep edge
beams to accommodate the cable stay anchorages.

3.4 Jambatan Seri Saujana (Precinct 4)

Jambatan Seri Saujana is one of the landmarks for the new government administration center in
Malaysia. This bridge is the link between the Core Island (Precinct 4) and Precinct 7.

It is a new and unique concept of cable-stayed Arch bridge with two independent structural
systems. The bridge is controlled by the principal design parameters to reflect a transparent
elegant and futuristic slender looking structure with an overall single span of 300m and a total
width of 32m.

Figure 8 show on the artist’s impression of the Jambatan Seri Saujana.

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Figure 8 : Artist’s Impression of Jambatan Seri Saujana

4.0 Future Development Of Cable-stayed Bridges In Malaysia

There are several future bridge projects in Malaysia where cable-stayed structure can be
considered as one of the alternatives.

4.1 Bridge Over Johor Straits

A bridge over the Tebrau Straits, and is located between Johor Bahru and Singapore. The cable-
stayed bridge with a main span of 230m over water is suspended from a single inclined pylon.
Two planes of stayed cables radiate from the pylon and suspend the 33.8m wide deck. The
design consultant is Hussein & K.H. Chong in association with Robert Bernaim.

4.2 Bridge Over Sungai Selangor

This second bridge over Sungai Selangor is located between Kg. Permatang and Kg. Telok
Penyamun. The cable-stayed bridge has a main span 230m over water. Two planes of stayed
cables radiate from a single vertical pylon and suspend the 18.5m wide deck. The design
consultant is Khairi Consult Sdn. Bhd.

Figure 9 show on the concept of the bridge

Figure 9 : The Design Concept of the Bridge

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4.3 Anak Bukit Bridge

This bridge over Sungai Anak Bukit is located at Alor Setar town. This cable-stayed bridge has a
main span of 140m and is suspended from a single inclined pylon. Two planes of stayed cables
radiate from the pylon and suspend the 22.8m wide deck. This project will be carried out as a
design-and-built contract.

Figure 10 show on the concept of the bridge

Figure 10 : The Design Concept of the Anak Bukit Bridge

4.4 Other potential bridges that can be constructed as cable-stayed bridges.

There are several potential bridges where cable-stayed structure may be considered:

a. Bridge linking Labuan & Sabah.

b. Bridge Link Malaysia and Sumatera.

c. Second Bridge for Permas Jaya in Johor

d. Bridge across Merbuk River from Tanjung Dawai to Merdeka Beach.

e. Second Bridge across Sungai Kelantan

f. Kuala Muda Bridge connecting Kuala Muda, Seberang Prai Utara in Penang and
Kuala Muda in Kedah.

CONCLUSIONS

From the above overview it is apparent that the development of cable-stayed bridges in Malaysia
is becoming more important in recent years. There is no doubt that many cable-stayed bridges
will be built in the future due to the simplicity of the deck structure and towers and the ease of
construction.

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ACKNOWLEDGMENT

The authors acknowledge with thanks the kind permission of the Director General of JKR, Dato’
Ir. Zaini bin Omar for this paper to be published and presented.

The author also wishes to express their thanks and gratitude to the Bridge Unit, Public Works
Department for their cooperation given to complete this paper

REFERENCES

1. Podolny, W and Fleming, J.F. ASCE Structural Journal, Vol 98, No. 9 “Sep.1972”
(Historical Development of Cable-Stayed Bridges)

2. “BRIDGES OF MALAYSIA” (1997)

(JKR 20416-0010-97)

3. Mohamed Taib, Ismail and Omar, Wahid (2000) “Introduction Of Current Bridge
Projects in Malaysia”.

4. Mohamed Taib, Ismail and Omar, Wahid (2000) “Introduction Of Future Bridge Projects
in Malaysia”.

5. REAM, (1999), “Guidelines on Bridge Aesthetic, 1999.

6. “Nishi Seto Expressway”, Third Operation Bureau, Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Authority.

7. “Technical Presentation to JKR Bridge Unit” (1998), BBR. LDP Cable-Stayed Bridge at
Motorola interchange

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