At 310 meters over the Fenglai Daxi River in the Wulong region, the main span of the world’s longest steel truss bridge is now complete. The colossal 580-meter arch was successfully closed, marking critical progress in the construction of this mega-structure located in Chongqing, southwest China.
A steel bridge in a challenging geography
Located between steep canyons, the project’s main bridge reaches a total length of 1,136 meters. Its central component is a
The construction team, led by China Railway Eighth Bureauimplemented for the first time an active stress distribution system to form the arch, simultaneously controlling its structural stress and trajectory. This strategy made it possible to assemble a 25,000-ton metal structure with extreme accuracy in an environment characterized by seismic and meteorological risks.
Regional impact and strategic connectivity
The bridge is part of the expressway that will connect Wulong District with Liangjiang New Area. Once operational, this 36.7-kilometer route will reduce travel time between the two areas by 30 minutes.
In addition to facilitating logistical transit, it is expected to boost tourism in natural destinations such as Fairy Mountain and strengthen Chongqing’s economic integration.
Data sizing the magnitude of the project
The largest lattice segment measures 39.5 meters long by 18 meters high. It weighs
This arch closure marks the beginning of the final phase of the project: the placement of the road deck that will complete the connection between the platforms. The bridge is expected to become operational in the coming months as part of a regional infrastructure network that already totals more than 1,200 kilometers of highways under development in the region.
Source and photo: CCTV