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Cầu Long Biên, originally known as the Paul Doumer Bridge, crosses the Red River in Hanoi. One of the most famous bridges in Vietnam, this bridge was built by the French company Daydé & Pillé of Paris in 1903. At the western end of the bridge, a single approach span is present, and this span was built by Schneider et Cie of Chalon-sur-Saône, France. Consisting of a repeating series of cantilever through truss systems (including anchor arms, cantilever arms, and suspended spans) this extremely long bridge (just over a mile in length) is one of the longest cantilever truss bridges in the world, and may also have one of the largest numbers of cantilever truss spans in a single bridge. Half of the bridge is over land and smaller channels of the Red River. The section over the large, main channel of the Red River was almost completely destroyed by bombing during the Vietnam War and only a few spans are original in that area, the destroyed spans having been replaced by new spans. In contrast, the section over land retains its original materials and design. The bridge carries a railway line between the two truss lines. A cantilevered deck is present on the outside of each truss line. Each cantilevered deck contains a lane for motorbike traffic plus a pedestrian sidewalk. The bridge is served by an elevated approach viaduct to the west in Hanoi which includes metal pony truss and concrete deck arch spans over the city streets.
The original spans of this bridge retain the original ornamental railings. The cantilever truss is in terms of its appearance noted for its striking visual contrast between the suspended spans, and the towering cantilever and anchor arms. An unusual design detail is that the suspended spans are not actually "suspended" in the sense that they are not attached to the cantilever arms by way of hangers, but instead they rest on rocker bearings on the cantilever arms.
Above: Historical photo showing bridge construction.
Above: Historical photo showing newly completed bridge.
Above: Historical photo showing newly completed bridge.
Above: Historical photo showing bridge in 1939.
Above: Historical photo showing bridge after destruction in war.
Above: Original drawing for bridge.
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