Works
Othmar Ammann designed more than half of the eleven bridges that connect New York City to the rest of the United States. His talent and ingenuity helped him create the two longest suspension bridges of his time. Ammann was known for being able to create bridges that were light and inexpensive, yet they were still simple and beautiful. He was able to do this by using the deflection theory. He believed that the weight per foot of the span and the cables would provide enough stiffness so that the bridge would not need any stiffening trusses. This made him popular during the depression era when being able to reduce the cost was crucial. Famous bridges by Ammann include:
- George Washington Bridge (opened October 24, 1931)
- Bayonne Bridge (opened November 15, 1931)
- Triborough Bridge (opened July 11, 1936)
- Bronx-Whitestone Bridge (opened April 29, 1939)
- Walt Whitman Bridge (opened May 16, 1957)
- Throgs Neck Bridge (opened January 11, 1961)
- Verrazano Narrows Bridge (opened November 21, 1964)
The George Washington Bridge was originally designed to have its steel structure riveted with stone. The stone was omitted from the final design because of the cost constraints. The cost constraints were due to the Great Depression. With Ammann's managerial skills he was able to complete the bridge ahead of schedule and under budget.
The Bayonne Bridge is the only bridge of Othmar's design that is not a suspension bridge; rather it is an arch bridge.
The Bronx-Whitestone Bridge had to be reinforced after only one year of operation. The bridge was perceivably moving during high winds. Warren Trusses were initially implemented to stiffen the bridge spoiling its streamlined classic looks. The trusses have been removed and the wind problem has been solved using "lightweight fiberglass aerodynamic fairing, triangular in shape that was installed along both sides of the bridge that slices the wind as it passes over the bridge."
In addition to his work on bridges Ammann also directed the planning and construction of the Lincoln Tunnel.
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