In February 2009, the National Development and Reform Commission issued a document approving the project proposal for the Chizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge. In July 2012, all special feasibility study topics for the bridge obtained approval, and the project feasibility study report was completed. In December of that year, the consultation and demonstration meeting on the bridge design scheme was completed. From August 14 to 16, 2013, the Ministry of Transport reviewed the feasibility study report for the Chizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge project; from August 28 to 30 of the same month, the National Development and Reform Commission reviewed the feasibility study report. The opinions of the review entities commissioned by the two ministries have been issued, and the feasibility study of the Chizhou Bridge is awaiting approval.

Estimated investment of 6.613 billion yuan, construction period of 4 years

The Chizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge is a key project of the national expressway network and the "Vertical Line 3" of the "Four Verticals and Eight Horizontals" in the province's expressway network plan, namely the Jinan—Dangshan—Lixin—Tongcheng—Chizhou—Shitai—Qimen highway crossing the Yangtze River. It is understood that the recommended route scheme for the Chizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge starts at Huiguan in Zongyang County, Anqing, connecting to the planned North Yanjiang Expressway, passes west of Baidang Lake and Ruandian, crosses the Yangtze River about 2.2 kilometers east of Shijitou, and after crossing the river passes through Gaoling, goes under the under-construction Ning'an Intercity Railway and Qiupu River, passes the west side of Wutou Lake, and intersects with the South Yanjiang Expressway at Yinjiahui, with a construction length of about 41.22 kilometers. The estimated project investment is 6.613 billion yuan, and the construction period is 4 years.

The entire Chizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge adopts a design speed standard of 100 km/h. The north bank connecting section is 15.7 kilometers long, with two-way four lanes and a subgrade width of 26 meters; the Yangtze River bridge section runs from the Zongyang East Interchange to the Chizhou West Interchange, with a length of 10.7 kilometers, two-way six lanes, and a subgrade width of 33.5 meters; the south bank connecting section is 14.82 kilometers long, with two-way four lanes and a subgrade width of 26 meters. The entire line has 4 interchanges, namely the Huiguan Hub Interchange (reserved), Zongyang East Interchange, Chizhou West Interchange, and Yinjiahui Hub Interchange. The project plans to set up 1 management center in Chizhou; 1 maintenance work area near the Zongyang East Interchange; and 1 service area near Baiyang Lake.

Unique design highlighting local characteristics

It is reported that the recommended type for the main bridge crossing the Yangtze River of the Chizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge is a hybrid girder two-tower cable-stayed bridge with a main span of 828 meters. The span arrangement is: 70+170+828+280+100, totaling 1,448 meters. The main towers are planned to be high and low towers. The bridge towers resemble a pair of Buddha's hands, elegant and upright, with 7 round beads connected in the middle, like Buddhist beads, and the stay cables connecting the main towers are like rays of Buddha's light. The Buddha's hands, Buddhist beads, and Buddha's light complement each other, fully reflecting the local characteristics of both banks of the bridge.

Through the relevant experiments of this trial pile, geotechnical parameters such as foundation design parameters will be determined, construction technology and related parameters will be further optimized, the feasibility of the underwater cast-in-place hollow tubular column structure scheme and its construction technology will be verified, supporting construction equipment will be developed, a complete construction method will be formed, and basic design parameters will be provided for the formal project design, laying a good foundation for the start of bridge construction.

As an important component of the province's expressway network plan "Four Verticals and Eight Horizontals" and a controlling project of the national expressway network G3W Dezhou至Shangrao, the proper construction of the Chizhou Yangtze River Highway Bridge is of great significance for accelerating north-south communication and coordinated development between Chizhou and Anqing and for promoting the construction of the Yangtze River Economic Belt.