Second tower of Zhijiang Yangtze River Bridge capped
2025-07-16 19:07:58
By Chen Si.
The south bank main tower of the Zhijiang Yangtze River Bridge was capped at 10:29 am on July 15. The bridge entered the upper structure construction phase to speed up the process of closing the bridge deck across the river.
The south bank main tower of the Zhijiang Yangtze River Bridge was capped at 10:29 am on July 15. The bridge entered the upper structure construction phase to speed up the process of closing the bridge deck across the river.
The south bank main tower of the under-construction Zhijiang Yangtze River Bridge. Photo by Tanyang ChenleiWith a total length of 1,549 meters and a total investment of 15.8 billion yuan (US$2.2 billion), the bridge broke ground on September 29, 2022. The main tower on the north bank was capped earlier, on March 21.
The south tower, located in Bailizhou Town, is an A-shaped structure with a vertical height of 257.5 meters. Its construction required 13,000 tons of steel and 100,000 cubic meters of concrete.
The south bank main tower of the under-construction Zhijiang Yangtze River Bridge. Photo by Tanyang ChenleiSince Bailizhou is an island in the middle of the Yangtze River, construction materials had to be transported from the river's north bank. To facilitate this, Zhijiang allocated land in advance for the tower and related facilities. After construction commenced, the transportation department coordinated with port, shipping, and maritime authorities to open a waterway for the contractor, facilitating material transportation.
During the construction of the south tower, the project team collaborated with numerous universities and research institutions to tackle key challenges, including concrete temperature control and construction climbing techniques.
The south bank main tower of the under-construction Zhijiang Yangtze River Bridge. Photo by Tanyang ChenleiThe Zhijiang Yangtze River Bridge is a key project of the Dangyang-Zhijiang-Songzi Expressway. The cross-river bridge deck will be closed at the end of this year, with the entire bridge expected to be completed and open to traffic in 2026.
Once complete, the expressway will, for the first time, connect Bailizhou to other places with land transportation. It will also connect Yichang and Jingzhou, providing a vital new route for travelers and the transport of agricultural products.
Zhang Mingwen, Fu Jiangshan, Zheng Zixian and Zhang Peng contributed to this story.
