With its main span of 1,624m, the 6.8 km long motorway bridge between Zealand and Sprogø is the world’s second longest suspension bridge.
At its highest point, the road is 75m above sea level. This is why wind conditions have a major impact on traffic on the bridge.The bridge’s gradient is a maximum of 2.1 per cent, i.e. somewhat less than the highest Gradients of other Danish motorway sections that rise up to 3.5 per cent.
The East Bridge’s bridge deck is made of steel while the two pylons, two anchor blocks and 19 bridge piers are of reinforced concrete.
The substructure in concrete includes pylons, anchor block and bridge piers and abutments. The superstructure in steel includes span and cables.
The suspension bridge between the two anchor blocks is approx. 2,700 m long. Furthermore the suspension bridges span between the pylons is 1,624 m plus the span sideways between the pylons and the anchor blocks is 535 m each.
Navigation
The East Bridge spans Storebælt’s East Channel, an international waterway with a depth of up to approx. 60m. Every year, 25,000 ships pass under the Storebælt bridges. Approx. 95 per cent of these pass under the East Bridge, which has a navigational clearance of 65m. The East Bridge’s large, free span was determined with the help of extensive manoeuvre simulations for shipping and has contributed to minimising the risk of collisions.
Pylons, anchor blocks and bridge piers nearest the passage span have been constructed so that possible collisions do not cause critical damage to the bridge. For extra safety, a system (VTS) has been set up which monitors shipping in Storebælt. The system helps to ensure that all large ships sail through the East Channel.
