 "China's Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is 625 metres above the canyon floor. It will hold the title of the tallest bridge in the world upon its opening. Image courtesy: X")
China’s Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, set to be the tallest bridge in the world, has crossed a major milestone on its way to opening. The structure has successfully passed its final static load test, bringing it a step closer to welcoming the public.
Perched high above the dramatic karst mountains of Guizhou Province in southwest China , the massive structure has been described by engineers as an “unprecedented engineering feat."
Now that the crucial safety checks are done, this structure, which cost staggering $283 million to build, is moving closer to becoming one of China’s architectural marvels. Here’s what we know about it
All about the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge
Work on the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge began in January 2022, and in just three years, it has transformed into a record-breaking marvel. Rising 2050 ft metres above the canyon floor, it will hold the title of the tallest bridge in the world upon its opening.
To put that dazzling height into perspective, the structure is nine times taller than London’s Tower Bridge and is twice the height of the Eiffel Tower in Paris.
With this, Guizhou Province has further strengthened its reputation as “the world’s bridge museum.” The region is home to more than 30,000 bridges, including three of the tallest ever built.
According to project manager Wu Zhaoming from Guizhou Transportation Investment Group Co, Ltd., the construction was anything but simple. The team had to overcome a series of challenges, from keeping temperatures stable during massive concrete pours to reinforcing steep canyon slopes and withstanding the area’s notorious high winds.
Despite these hurdles, the bridge was completed in record time. Engineers now describe it as the largest span bridge ever built in a mountainous region, an achievement that pushes the boundaries of modern engineering.
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, which is set to officially open in September,will help commuters in big way.
It will cut the travel time between Liuzhi and Anlong, which once took two hours, will now be cut down to just two minutes.
Beyond convenience, the bridge is also expected to transform local tourism and bring new opportunities for development.
China, meanwhile, continues to dominate the world’s bridge rankings. Eight of the ten tallest bridges already in operation are in the country, with Guizhou alone leading the way in redefining what’s possible in bridge construction.
The bridge underwent a 3,360-tonne load test
From 21 to 25 August, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge went through its final and most crucial safety check, a static load test.
To push the structure to its limits, engineers rolled 96 heavy trucks, each weighing around 35 tonnes, onto the span in carefully planned stages. Altogether, the weight came to a staggering 3,360 tonnes.
The trucks first moved slowly across the bridge and were then stationed at specific points to mimic different stress conditions the bridge might face in daily use.
To capture every detail, engineers had fitted more than 400 sensors across the main span, towers, cables, and suspenders. These sensors tracked even the tiniest movements and shifts in the structure.
The results were reassuring. The bridge passed the test without issue, meeting all safety standards and clearing the final hurdle before it officially opens to traffic next month.
With input from agencies