Strait of Messina Bridge have made the span more than 60% longer than the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan—the largest suspension bridge in the world at . Plans called for four traffic lanes (two driving lanes and one emergency lane in each direction), two railway tracks and two pedestrian lanes. In order to provide a minimum vertical clearance for navigation of , the height of the two towers was to be . This would have been taller than the Millau Viaduct in France (currently the tallest bridge in the world at ). The bridge's suspension system would have relied on two pairs of steel cables,
Kingsmead Viaduct 2005. Improvements to the bridge parapets to bring them up to modern standards were carried out by Hertfordshire Council from July to September 2008. The work included installing 'high containment' parapets above the railway. The bridge spans the Lea Valley, crossing the River Lea, the New River and the A119 road between the Rush Green Interchange near Hertford and the Westmill interchange (north-west of Ware). Also running along the valley floor is the Hertford East Branch Line, which the viaduct crosses between Ware and the Hertford East terminus. Kingsmead Viaduct The Kingsmead Viaduct (or "Kings Meads Viaduct") is a raised