The Zhuchanghe River Bridge, located in China‘s Shandong Province, is truly a testament to human engineering capabilities. This concrete beam bridge stands tall at an impressive height of 224 meters, making it not only an architectural marvel but also a major attraction for tourists.
The bridge is built over the Zhuchanghe River, which is an essential waterway in the Shandong Province. It connects the cities of Dongping and Fushan and has become an important trade route between the two cities. The bridge has two main spans of 132 meters each, held up by two towering concrete pylons. The bridge is supported by a total of 64 steel wires, each having a diameter of 68 millimeters and weighing a total of 574 tons.
One of the most impressive aspects of the Zhuchanghe River Bridge is its unique design. The bridge designers used a cleverly crafted technique of cable-stayed construction. The technique was used to support the massive weight of the bridge and provided an unparalleled sense of stability while keeping the structure narrow enough to allow for efficient road traffic. This design allowed the bridge to withstand strong winds, earthquakes, and other natural disasters, making it a highly secure structure.
During construction, the engineers faced multiple challenges. One of the most significant challenges was the high tidal range of the Zhuchanghe River, which made the construction work extremely difficult. The engineers had to use divers to work underneath the water to install the steel wires, which took months to complete. Another challenge was the construction site’s location, nested amongst rugged terrain and mountainous rock structures, making transportation a logistical nightmare.
The construction of the Zhuchanghe River Bridge took a total of three years and cost over 1.2 billion yuan. The project involved over 800 construction workers and engineers and consumed over 63,000 tons of steel and 275,000 cubic meters of concrete. The bridge was opened to the public on May 16, 2015, and has since become a popular attraction for tourists.
The Zhuchanghe River Bridge has been quite a remarkable achievement for the Chinese engineering industry. Standing at a height of 224 meters, it now holds the title of the highest cable-stayed bridge in China and the second-highest in the world, following the Russky Bridge in Vladivostok, Russia. It has significantly facilitated trade and transportation between Dongping and Fushan and provided an impressive and awe-inspiring structure for tourists.