A remarkable engineering achievement is being realized with the ongoing construction of the Zhangjiagang-Jingjiang-Rugao Yangtze River Bridge – which on completion is set to connect the cities of Zhangjiagang, Jingjiang and Rugao in East China's Jiangsu province.
The project placed a massive 718-metric-ton steel tower section on Feb 27.
The first section of the main tower is put in place on Feb 27. [Photo/WeChat account: jin-jingjiang]
The bridge will span a total of 28 kilometers – making it the world's longest – with its main section across the Yangtze River measuring 2,300 meters. It will start from the Shanghai-Xi'an Expressway in Rugao and end at the Zhangjiagang Shugang Expressway.
Its designers say it not only showcases human ingenuity, but also sets a new standard for engineering excellence.
The main tower of the bridge reaches a lofty height of 350 meters, equivalent to a 125-story building. It utilizes a pioneering steelbox-steel pipe concrete restraint combination system, which is said to represent a world-first innovation.
Moreover, the tower comprises 30 sections and contains an impressive 34,000 tons of steel, which stands as an exemplar of precision and technological advancement.
The construction of the main tower has adhered to stringent requirements. The 350-meter tower's verticality is only allowed to deviate within a mere 58 millimeters.
Once complete, the Zhangjiagang-Jingjiang-Rugao Yangtze River Bridge is expected to play a pivotal role in the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta region and the national strategy of the Yangtze River Economic Belt Development.