China’s £216 Million Bridge Passes Key Test Ahead of Opening

A remarkable £216 million bridge in China, known as the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, has successfully passed a crucial load test. This test, which lasted five days, was conducted in preparation for the bridge’s opening, scheduled for late September 2023. The assessment involved a testing team driving a total of 96 trucks, weighing approximately 3,300 tonnes, to specific points on the bridge to evaluate its strength and safety for future traffic.

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, rising an impressive 625 metres above the Beipan River gorge in Guizhou province, aims to claim the title of the tallest bridge in the world. It is set to achieve two significant records: the highest bridge overall and the longest bridge constructed across mountainous terrain. According to Zhang Shenglin, the chief engineer of the Guizhou Highway Group, the overall progress of the bridge has reached 95%, with plans for it to open to traffic in the second half of 2025.

Engineering Feat and Impact on Commute

Zhang further stated in an interview with the state-run newspaper China Daily, “By then, this super project that spans the ‘Earth crack’ will be the world’s first in both directions. It will become another landmark project to demonstrate China’s infrastructure strength.” Wu Zhaoming of the Guizhou Transportation Investment Group Co., Ltd. described the bridge as “an unprecedented engineering feat.” Engineers had to cut through a mountain to create the necessary pathway for the bridge, a process that has dramatically altered the landscape.

Video footage released by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on August 1, 2023, showcased the bridge snaking through the altered hill, with two portions of its top sloping inward. Once completed, the bridge is expected to significantly reduce travel time for motorists, enabling them to cross the gorge in just one minute instead of navigating a convoluted hour-long commute.

Comparison with Other Major Structures

The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge will join the ranks of other notable engineering marvels, such as the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, which currently holds the record as the longest bridge in the world at 102 miles. This structure, also located in China, carries high-speed trains across a variety of landscapes, including cities, lakes, and rivers. It was constructed with the labor of around 10,000 workers over a span of four years.

Currently, the tallest operational bridge is France’s Millau Viaduct, which stands at 343 metres, surpassing the height of the Eiffel Tower and offering breathtaking views from its location above the clouds in Creissels. The anticipated opening of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge will not only redefine architectural standards but also serve as a testament to China’s advancing infrastructure capabilities.