Guidelines on Mega Sea Links & Fixed Crossings

Mission Statement / Objectives

Mega Sea Links and Fixed Crossings are among the most complex infrastructure systems in bridge and structural engineering. They often connect major urban regions, islands, economic corridors and, in some cases, two separate nations, thereby requiring multidisciplinary planning, cross-border collaboration, environmental stewardship and lifecycle governance.

The objective of TG 4.6 is to prepare practical IABSE guidance in the form of a Structural Engineering Documents (SED) - for planning, conceptual design, procurement, design development, construction, operation and long-term asset management of Mega Sea Links and Fixed Crossings. The guidelines will consolidate international experience from major sea links, long-span marine crossings, immersed and bored tunnel links, approach viaducts, navigation spans, artificial and natural islands, and related coastal and offshore infrastructure.

Scope & Limitation

The Task Group will draw upon experience from major international projects, including Incheon Bridge, Busan-Geoje Link, Shenzhen-Zhongshan and other major Chinese crossings, Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, Brunei Temburong Bridge, Bataan-Cavite Bridge, Mumbai Trans Harbour Link, Oresund Crossing, Great Belt Link, Honshu-Shikoku Link, The Channel Tunnel, Confederation Bridge, and Norway’s Coastal Highway E39 “ferry-free” programme etc.

The guideline will address strategic planning, typology selection, navigation spans, approach viaducts, bridge-tunnel interfaces, ship collision, marine foundations, durability, sustainability, climate resilience, procurement, constructability, marine logistics, safety, SHM, operation and asset management. It will remain a high-level international guidance document and will not replace national codes, project-specific design criteria or statutory requirements.

Expected Project Output

The principal output will be an IABSE SED provisionally titled ‘Guidelines on Mega Sea Links & Fixed Crossings’. The SED will include practical guidance, case-study lessons, “pearls of wisdom”, “Dos and Don’ts”, and annexed checklists for owners, designers, contractors, operators and authorities.

Start Date: 15 June 2026

Target Date of Completion: 15 June 2029

Chair

Tina Vejrum, Denmark

Co-Chair

Harshavardhan Subbarao, India

Members

If you are interested to join Task Group 4.6 then please contact the Chair, Dr. Tina Vejrum, tve@cowi.com,