What does Hunan Province's largest single municipal cable-stayed bridge look like? On August 31, a reporter found the answer behind a construction hoarding near Moon Island in Wangcheng District, Changsha.

Xinglian Road Bridge Boasts "Three Bests"

As one of Changsha's "Top Ten Infrastructure Projects," the Changyi Expressway-Xinglian Road Major Corridor Project (river-crossing section) spans 5.475 kilometers, with the main bridge stretching 4.96 kilometers. It is managed by Changsha Communications Group and constructed by CCCC First Highway Engineering Group. The project connects Wangcheng District and Kaifu District in Changsha, starting west of Yinshan Road and ending west of the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway Bridge. It is a new express corridor into and out of the city in northern Changsha.

Stepping inside the hoarding and looking out from the bridge, one sees the Trident Bridge to the south and the Moon Island Xiangjiang Bridge to the north, with tall ramps and workers constructing the main bridge coming into view. According to reports, the project is divided into three construction zones: the east and west bank areas are undergoing municipal pipeline relocation and main bridge structure construction, while the in-water area is advancing pylon and cantilever beam construction.

"The Xinglian Road Bridge is currently the widest, longest single-span, and longest river-crossing bridge under construction in Changsha," said Wu Jiacheng, the on-site engineer for the project from Changsha Communications Group. "The bridge deck is 38.5 meters wide with eight lanes in both directions; the main span is 380 meters, with two side spans adjacent to the main bridge each measuring 165 meters; the main bridge length is 4.96 kilometers. The main bridge crossing the Xiangjiang River is a twin-pylon cable-stayed bridge and is the largest single municipal cable-stayed bridge in Hunan Province."

Both Pylons Planned to Be Capped by End of 2023

According to reports, the Xinglian Road Bridge is an eight-lane bridge in both directions. The bridge also features a slow-traffic crossing channel for pedestrians and non-motorized vehicles, and the approach bridges on both the east and west sides are six lanes in both directions.

Walking on the construction access bridge, the project's two pylons are under intense construction. The two pylons are slender and oval-shaped, resembling the shape of Moon Island. "Pylon 50# is 148.277 meters tall and has reached 91 meters; Pylon 51# is 147.142 meters tall and has reached 87 meters. Both pylons are expected to be capped by the end of this year, at which point the overall construction progress will reach about 75%," said Ruan Xiaoming, head of the main bridge work zone for the project at CCCC First Highway Engineering Group Co., Ltd. "Currently, about 1,000 workers are on the project, advancing steadily according to the construction schedule. The project is planned to be completed and open to traffic by the end of 2024."