The Sutong Yangtze River Bridge is an engineering marvel and one of the largest bridges in the world. Spanning 8.4 miles, it crosses the Yangtze River and connects the cities of Nantong and Changshu. Completed in 2008, the bridge marks the new link between Shanghai, the province of Jiangsu, and the city of Nantong. Along with saving time, it has drastically improved the convenience and economic outcome of everyday life. But have you ever wondered who constructed this masterpiece?
Built by a consortium consists of China Communications Highways Yunnan Huashi, China Dockwide Company and CCCC Second Highway Engineering Group Company, the Sutong Yangtze River Bridge cost an estimated 5.8 billion yuan (around 846 million U.S. dollars). It took three construction teams to build the bridge. Each team worked on one side of the Yangtze River, and eventually, the two sides met in the middle. However, the main contractor is CCC Second Highway Engineering Co. Ltd. as it is the one that supervised the other two teams. The construction for the bridge began back in 2003, and it took 5 years for the bridge to be completed.
Till today, 21 expert engineers from the CCCC Second Survey and Designing Institute remain proud of their accomplishment. Many of them were young experts from the institution and the bridge had given them a unique opportunity to shine. One of them, Liang Jing, had been one of the main design engineers for the project. Jing expressed that the toughest challenge for the team was maintaining the quality standard throughout the five year span. Such a giant project contains various materials and techniques, and ensuring the product was extremely important.
Jing further expressed that the key to the successful completion of the Sutong Yangtze River Bridge lies in the stringent technical requirements and excellent project team. To ensure a superior performance for lofty engineering, one must come up with optimal solutions for new products at early stages. These solutions then has to be tested, validated and improved in order to meet the high requirements of the bridge. The project team must also be equipped with the latest technology and equipment to be able to attain the stipulated quality level.
The success of the Sutong Yangtze River Bridge is the result of continuous efforts and dedication put in by the engineering team. More than 800 experts and technicians have been involved in the design, production and installation of the bridge since its commencement. In addition, 500,000 tonnes of steel, 43,000 tonnes of grouting materials, 236,000 tonnes of cement and 630,000 cubic meters of concrete were also used in the construction. As such, the Sutong Yangtze River Bridge serves as a reminder of the resilience and resourcefulness of the engineering team.
Challenges faced in the construction of the bridge
Like any other project, constructing the Sutong Yangtze River Bridge had its own set of challenges. For one thing, the length of the bridge was four times than other bridges of its kind. This means that the bridge had to accommodate four levels – two upper and two lower levels. With all the construction material being transported along the two sides, coordination and management of the process had to be perfect in order for the construction to move along smoothly.
Another challenge faced was the strong air turbulence and strong winds of the Yangtze River. The adjusting speed of the pendulum is able to resist the wind speed of 300km/h. We learned that the intensity of the wind speed is usually the highest at 1am and it was at the time this bridge was built. The bridge hence had to be designed to withstand these vast winds and ensure that no loose parts happened.
Not only that, the bridge had to be built with a total length of 10 km. It was necessary to create a series of separate foundations, which had to bear a heavy load and fit into the environment. The supporting towers of the bridge had to take into account the situation of multiple flood seasons, which requires high technical specifications and configuration.
Safety Measures taken during the construction of the bridge
Given the ambitious scale of this project, the engineering and construction team were fully determined and prepared to ensure the safety of the construction staff. A series of multiple life-safeguarding systems were installed on the bridge so as to ensure that workers are warned should there be any danger. Fire alarms, infrared intrusion alarms and power failure alarms were a few of the safety features that were put in place.
Supplementary safety measures were taken and workers were trained on safety regulations. These include safety guidelines for welders, temperature checks for crane operators, as well as guidelines for crane lifting operations and bridge cab installation. To tackle the external danger threats, the team also conducted a series of rigorous inspections such as tension tests and routine inspections of cable-stayed bridge head.
Apart from that, the team also enforced old regulations and took stringent measures for vehicle traffic management. They also created a closed and secure environment for the construction with security checkpoints along the river and intruders were not allowed on construction sites. All of these safety measures were taken to ensure the safety of the people working on the project.
Design features of the bridge
The Sutong Yangtze River Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge with an interesting three-tower design. The total length of the bridge is 8.4 miles and it is composed of 8 sections. Two main tower pillars in the middle support the main cable-stayed long span. The two towers have a height of 308m, and the main bridge is situated at the middle of the bridge, spanning 2km.
The Sutong bridge has two bridges that were constructed in two sections. On the Nantong side, the bridge is composed of five spans, including a 500m middle span that is the second longest span in the world being supported by two cable-stayed panels. On the Changshu side, the bridge has three sections that feature two 100m decks and a 200m deck.
Besides the impressive design, unique measures are also taken to reduce the bridge from any kind of vibration. Seismic support systems had to be installed to reduce the shock from any seismic activity and ensure the structure of the bridge is not compromised. Moreover, shock absorption system had to be incorporated in the bridge to reduce the shock from any kind of heavy traffic on the bridge.
Innovations applied to the bridge
The Sutong Yangtze River Bridge is an engineering masterpiece consisted of advanced technologies, and numerous innovative ways that manage to save both resources and time. During the construction, the team invested in a series of innovative methods to carry out the task efficiently.
Firstly, four railway tracks were formed on the bridge to manage bridge materials transportation from both sides of the river. It also includes two metro lines as well as two car lanes. Along with that, two lifting machines with a lifting power of up to 3,500 tons respectively were used in the construction of the bridge.
In addition, the team used fire-resistant materials for the construction which best fit the environment. To save time and effort, thermal spraying technology was adopted for the construction of the bridge’s steel structures.
Apart from that, 3D printing was also used to cast the face of the bridge towers. 3D printing is a feasible option when large quantities of identical products are required. By using this method to cast the face of the bridge, it increases the time efficiency since a huge amount of products can be produced at once with less labour cost.
Analysis of the success of the bridge
The Sutong Yangtze River Bridge has definitely brought dramatic and successful outcomes to the communities both in Nantong and Changshu. The travel time between Jiangsu province, Shanghai and Nantong has been drastically reduced, with the journey consuming only 42 minutes. This improves the access to workplace and education for residents, and makes it easier for them to access the medical care too.
Besides that, it creates a better environment for economic exchanges between the two cities. The bridge also serves as an engine for the regional economic development, with the increase in trade and investment opportunities that link the two cities. As such, the bridge not only serves as an important transport passage but also as an economic barometer of the two cities.
The success of the Sutong Yangtze River Bridge has also sparked a deep enthusiasm for infrastructure development among China and the world. The bridge serves as a testimonial of the power, courage and dedication of engineering projects. It provides a symbolic reference for other transport projects, setting a high standard in terms of effectiveness and quality.
Conclusion of the bridge
The Sutong Yangtze River Bridge is an engineering masterpiece with technological prowess and innovation. Completed in 2008, it serves as a symbol of China’s roads and bridges engineering, bringing about a substantial and effective outcome for both Nantong and Changshu. Not only does it possess a vibrant structure, it is also designed with safety features and numerous innovations to further support its functionalities.
The success of this bridge is enough proof that the power of resourcefulness survives anything. As long as everything is planned out meticulously and executed with great dedication, seemingly impossible tasks will become, one day, possible achievements.
