China has inaugurated the Chanta Bridge, a new cable-stayed bridge that has claimed the title of the world's tallest of its kind. This significant infrastructure project spans the Yangtze River, creating a vital connection between the cities of Changzhou and Taizhou in Jiangsu province.
The new bridge drastically reduces travel time between Changzhou and Taizhou from over an hour to approximately 20 minutes, promising enhanced efficiency for both commuters and commerce. The Chanta Bridge's main pylon reaches an impressive height of 1,208 meters, surpassing previous records for cable-stayed bridges. A notable design feature is its asymmetric lower pylon, which uniquely integrates a high-speed rail line, capable of speeds up to 200 km/h, with a conventional highway on a single structure.
The construction of the Chanta Bridge took six years and involved advanced technologies and meticulous planning. Specialized equipment, including a tower crane with a jib crane and the world's largest movable gantry, was used for precise installation of bridge segments. The pylon bases are constructed from steel and concrete rhombuses with flexible connections to manage thermal expansion. Qin Shunxian served as the chief designer for this project.
Zhong Aizhu, a project leader from the China Communications Construction Company, noted the complexities of balancing the weight of the high-speed railway with the highway. Engineers managed these challenges by carefully calibrating truss tension and segment shapes. The bridge's foundations were engineered to withstand the strong currents of the Yangtze River, ensuring long-term stability.
The Chanta Bridge is part of China's broader strategy to expand its transportation network. The country plans to increase the number of bridges crossing the Yangtze River from approximately 150 to 240 by 2035. This expansion aims to further stimulate economic activity and improve regional integration. The previous record holder for the tallest cable-stayed bridge was the Russky Bridge in Vladivostok, Russia, with a main pylon height of 1,104 meters.