The world’s highest bridge is about to open

The Huajiang Gorge Bridge in Guizhou province reached a milestone when the final 215-ton steel truss section was put into place on January 17. Construction begins in 2022. Rising 625 meters above the Beipan River, the 1,420 meter long main bridge is almost on par with Shanghai Tower, the tallest building in China. Once completed, the project is expected to surpass the North Panjiang Bridge, also in Guizhou province, to become the tallest bridge and the longest span mountain bridge in the world.

Guizhou’s rugged terrain has fueled the need to build excellent bridge infrastructure to support transportation networks. As an important part of the Luc Chi – An Long Expressway, the Huajiang Gorge Bridge helps shorten travel time through the canyon from about an hour to just two minutes. This is expected to boost local tourism, attracting more visitors to nearby attractions such as the famous Huangguoshu waterfall.

“The completion of the Huajiang Gorge Bridge will strengthen the economic links between Guiyang, Anshun and Southwest Qian, promoting economic integration in the region,” said Chen Jianlei, deputy director of the Guizhou Department of Transportation, said.

The steel truss structure, the main load-bearing element of the bridge, consists of 93 sections and weighs a total of about 22,000 tons – equivalent to the weight of three Eiffel Towers. The construction process was challenging due to the rugged terrain of the Huajiang Gorge and erratic weather, such as wind, humidity and temperature fluctuations.

To overcome these obstacles, the project team used a smart cable crane system developed by China. The cable crane is equipped with Bac Dau satellite positioning system, allowing precise lifting of materials with just the push of a button. “Once the coordinates are entered, the system automatically sends the crane to the designated location, reducing the workload for the operator. While traditional cable crane operations require eight workers, we reduce the workload for the operator. there are only 4 left,” said Li Zhao, chief engineer of the project.

The construction process also uses digital management tools such as real-time materials monitoring and virtual simulation to align parts, according to Liang Junyuan, project manager at the southwest branch of the company. China Railway Baoji Bridge Group.

The project team used 3D scanning technology and virtual simulation to detect the risk of collision of parts, ensuring accuracy during construction. “When assembling on site, we follow the predetermined sequence, achieving 100% accuracy in aligning the bolt with the specified hole,” Li added.

Currently about 80% of the project has been completed. The project team will soon shift its focus to installing the panels between the truss frames after the Lunar New Year, ensuring the bridge’s inauguration is on schedule this year.