It would not have needed ground supports once the suspension was in place.
I get it. A suspension bridge without any suspension. At least not right away. Turns out the suspension was needed right away. Suspension design was dumb and a showoff deal. Just build it with center pillars next time and forget any suspension. When this POS is rebuilt (at US taxpayers expense) my bet is suspension will be OUT and center pillars IN.
Yep. That concrete platform, sans any supporting beams, was designed to be suspended. Without the suspension cables, it basically collapsed under its own weight.
There is a reason that we don’t make wrench handles out of concrete. Makes a great pad, but a terrible lever.