New Bay Bridge Cable Saddle is Biggest in the World

To have a new Bay Bridge, you need a lot of cable. To have a lot of cable, you need a lot of cable saddle -- the world's biggest, in fact.

The world's biggest cable saddle -- the anchor component from which the suspension bridge's one-mile long, 30-inch wide supporting strands lead down from the bridge tower -- was lifted into place Thursday during a 12-hour operation.

The cable saddle is 450 tons, or 900,000 pounds, according to reports in the San Jose Mercury News.

"It's a significant milestone for the bridge because we are at the technical top of the bridge," said Bart Ney, a spokesman for CalTrans.

The milestone comes before the bridge will experience detours over Memorial Day Weekend. The $6.3 billion bridge is scheduled to be completed in late 2013, according to Ney.

The cable will be lifted into place sometime later this year.
 

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