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12 Recommendations for Further Work
We recommend that FETA commission the following work to begin as soon as possible:
- Install an acoustic monitoring system for the full length of both cables. This will detect breaking wires as well as their locations within the cables. Such systems are currently in use in the US on three bridges and are believed to be effective and reliable, although there has not been rigorous testing to confirm the sensitivity to wires that break deep within the cable.
- Develop a design for a dry air injection system for both cables and proceed with construction in the near future.
- Conduct additional internal inspections within five years. Subsequent inspections should include re-inspection of some of the panels inspected in 2004, as well as a larger number of new panels. The NCHRP provides reasonable guidelines in selecting the number of panels to be inspected in the future. If a dry air injection system is installed as recommended, it may be opportune to open and inspect additional panels during its installation, thus taking advantage of the presence of the contractor and approved maintenance and traffic protection procedures.
- Confirm the site specific factor of safety for the main cable rather than use a generic factor of two.
The audit has considered the latest work prepared by Faber Maunsell and Weidlinger. It would be appropriate for the audit team to complete their audit once the final calculations and report are submitted to FETA, particularly if there are any major changes to the information submitted to date.
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