New Huangpu River bridge finishes main structure
The main structure of a new bridge linking Minhang and Fengxian districts over the Huangpu River was completed on Thursday.
The main structure of a new bridge over the Huangpu River was completed on Thursday, marking a major step toward its slated completion by the end of 2020.
The 1,940-meter Kunyang Road Bridge, the 13th across the river, will connect Kunyang Road in Minhang District and the Puwei Highway in Fengxian District, relieving congestion on other bridges and thoroughfares in the southwest of the city, according to Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co Road and Bridge Group, the city’s major bridge constructor.
The double-layer bridge has an upper level for motor vehicles and a lower level for pedestrians and cyclists. It will be served by eight elevators with a capacity of 5 tons each for pedestrians and bikes.
During its construction, a 700-ton crane ship raised a 380-ton section of bridge deck to another two cranes installed on the tower in the middle of the river. The massive section was then installed and stayed with cables.
A total of 61 such pieces make up the deck of the bridge toward both banks of the river.
The final pieces of bridge deck were installed on Thursday morning, when the temperature and weather conditions were deemed ideal for the operation.
The main structure of a new bridge over the Huangpu River was completed on Thursday.
"Before the final connection work, engineers measured the temperature and condition of the steel structure of the bridge deck once every two hours to determine the most ideal time for the milestone process," said Wu Jun, the project manager. The meteorological history of that river stretch over the last five years was also consulted, he added.
Despite the novel coronavirus outbreak, the bridge construction has caught up to schedule to finish the main structure ahead of the city's typhoon season, Wu said.
Traffic on part of the busy waterway was suspended temporarily during the bridge construction. The city's maritime safety authority deployed 18 ships to secure the construction area and ensure safety. About 2,000 ships pass through the location every day.
The main tower of the bridge is 136 meters high. Prefabrication was widely used for the first time on a bridge across the river, minimizing disruption to shipping while reducing noise and pollution.
The main structure of a new bridge over the Huangpu River was completed on Thursday.
The 1,940-meter Kunyang Road Bridge, the 13th across the river, will connect Kunyang Road in Minhang District and the Puwei Highway in Fengxian District.
