Prior to 2002, the medal was joined to a straight suspender by a single-toe claw.
The suspender is of the swivelling ornate scroll type.
It has a wider deck, more overhead clearance, and utilizes suspender cables instead of thin suspender beams.
The ribbon suspender is decorated with proteas and leaves.
At the top is a suspender of five graduated gold rays.
The suspender is straight with a ring passing through a smaller loop sweated to the top of the medal.
The decoration is attached to a plain bronze suspender fixed to the upper arm of the decoration.
In some bridges, where the towers are close to or on the shore, the suspender cables may be applied only to the central span.
