China is set to unveil the world’s tallest bridge, which will be almost twice the height of the Eiffel Tower.
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, scheduled to open in June, is under two miles in length but will slash travel time across the gorge from over an hour to just a few minutes.
Situated 625 metres above river level, it will be almost 200 metres higher than the Empire State Building.
Soaring above the Beipan river, the engineering feat will allow motorists to reach chilling heights as they cross the 22,000 ton bridge.
Work started on the ambitious project in 2022 to create a motorway connecting the Liuzhi and Anlong areas in the southwestern Guizhou Province.
Three years later – at the cost of £216million – officials hope the completed bridge will boost tourism and the local economy.
Chen Jianlei, deputy director of the Guizhou Transport Department, said: ‘The completion of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge will strengthen economic ties between Guiyang, Anshun and Qianxinan, fostering regional economic integration.’
Zhang Shenglin, a deputy to the 14th National People’s Congress, said: ‘This super project spanning the “Earth’s crack” will showcase China’s engineering capabilities and boost Guizhou’s goal of becoming a world-class tourist destination.
‘Its steel trusses weigh about 22,000 metric tons — the equivalent of three Eiffel Towers — and were installed in just two months.’
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, set to open in June, is under two miles in length but will slash travel time across the gorge from over an hour to just a few minutes
Work started on the ambitious project in 2022 to create a motorway connecting the Liuzhi and Anlong areas in the southwestern Guizhou Province
Situated 625 metres above river level, it will be almost 200 metres higher than the Empire State Building
Oofficials hope the completed bridge will boost tourism and the local economy
Li Zhao, chief engineer of the project, added: ‘Witnessing my work becomes something tangible — watching the bridge grow day by day and finally stand tall above the canyon — gives me a profound sense of achievement and pride.’
As well as being set to become the world’s tallest, it will also the world’s largest span bridge to be built in a mountainous area, at 1,420 metres, or 4,650 ft.
With 92.5 percent of its land covered by mountains and hills, the region has built nearly 30,000 bridges since the late 1970s and is now home to nearly half of the world’s 100 tallest bridges.
Alimak, a Stockholm-based company that provided equipment for the construction, said the location and weather conditions created significant challenges.
The final steel truss segment, weighing 215 tons, was hoisted into place in January, completing the main structure.
All that is left is the main cable wrapping, painting and the installation of minor facilities.
The final steel truss segment, weighing 215 tons, was hoisted into place in January, completing the main structure
Alimak, a Stockholm-based company that provided equipment for the construction, said the location and weather conditions created significant challenges
With 92.5 percent of its land covered by mountains and hills, the region has built nearly 30,000 bridges since the late 1970s and is now home to nearly half of the world’s 100 tallest bridges
Wu Chaoming, a senior engineer participating in the construction, said the bridge spans the Beipan River, adding: ‘To complete the steel girder hoisting, we have equipped the world’s largest span cable hoisting system.’
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is also set to become a tourist destination in itself, with plans for private accomodation, a glass walkway and the highest bungee jump in the world.
The world’s tallest bridge is currently the Beipanjiang Bridge, which is also in Guizhou.
Spanning over the Beipan River between Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, the bridge stands 565 metres above the river, and reduces travel time between Guizhou and Yunnan from over four hours to under one hour.
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