World's largest cable-stayed bridge fully connected in east China

The world's largest span cable-stayed bridge, the Changtai Yangtze River Bridge, achieved full connectivity on Sunday in east China's Jiangsu Province and is expected to open to traffic by the end of next April.

Connecting Changzhou and Taizhou cities in Jiangsu, it is the first cross-river facility combining highway, intercity railway and ordinary roads over the Yangtze River, the world's third longest river. After five years of construction, the bridge boasts a total length of 10.3 kilometers, including 5.3 kilometers of road and rail sections. 

Featuring a steel truss cable-stayed bridge with a remarkable main span of 1,208 meters, alongside two impressive steel truss arch bridges boasting main spans of 388 meters each, and complemented by a continuous steel truss bridge spanning 3×124 meters, this bridge ensemble holds multiple world records. 

It stands as the epitome of engineering excellence, setting benchmarks for the largest span cable-stayed bridge, the largest span dual-use road and rail steel truss arch bridge, and the longest continuous steel truss structure.

The closure of the main girder of the mega bridge was achieved precisely with an error of less than 2 millimeters, which is no mean feat. The construction team employed meticulous techniques to achieve high-precision alignment of the bolt holes at the bridge closure.

This involved adjusting the spacing between closures using the main beam's longitudinal displacement, eliminating height discrepancies by regulating cable tension, and employing additional methods like temporary load movement on the bridge face. These measures ensured consistent elevation and rotation angles for the steel trusses on both sides, resulting in a maximum deviation of just 2 millimeters.

Li Haifeng, deputy head at the construction site of Changtai Yangtze River Bridge, told China Media Group (CMG) that they will now work on the construction of ancillary facilities. "The bridge is expected to pass the dynamic and static load testing and acceptance test by the end of next April, when the bridge will be ready to open to traffic."

By then, the bridge will significantly enhance the regional road network, fostering coordinated development within the Yangtze River Delta urban agglomeration. This vital infrastructure project will also support key national initiatives, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Yangtze River Economic Belt development, and the integrated development of the Yangtze River Delta, according the construction team, CMG reported.