China's $280m mega-bridge higher than the Empire State Building passes critical test
A multi-record-breaking bridge is one step closer to opening after passing the final phase of critical testing.
Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou, southwest China, will smash multiple world records when it opens in late September.
At 625 meters high (2,051 feet), the structure will be almost twice the height of New York's Empire State Building, which only stands at 1,454 feet tall - and that's including its spine and antenna, too.
Spanning 1,420 meters (4,659 feet), it's set to become both the world's highest suspension bridge and the largest span bridge built in a mountainous area.
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Crossing the Beipan River through the Huajiang Grand Canyon, the bridge carries the Liuzhi–Anlong Expressway and links Liuzhi Special District and Anlong County.
Commuters have had to snake around cliffs and switchbacks as part of a time-consuming 90-minute journey.
However, the new bridge will reduce their commute to a 90-second scenic drive - without compromising the breathtaking views.
Construction on the mammoth $280 million project began in 2022.
Workers pieced together 93 giant steel truss segments - each weighing as much as a commercial jetliner - before lifting them hundreds of metres above the river.
However, if you're going to cross it, then you'd like it to be safe, of course. On Monday (August 25), 96 lorries carrying 3,360 tonnes drove across the bridge over five days, proving it can handle the weight (via The National).
Now that it has passed a critical stress test, the impressive viaduct is weeks away from opening to the public. Local authorities hope the record-breaking bridge will also boost tourism to the area.
They've encouraged the idea by including a 200-meter-high sightseeing elevator to a tower-top viewpoint, internal truss walkways with glass floors and even a bungee jump platform. Rather you than me...
When it opens, it will be the world’s highest bridge by deck-to-ground, from the roadway down to the river.
This means it's overtaking the 565-meter record previously set by Beipanjiang's Duge Bridge.
It won’t take the title of tallest bridge, though. 'Highest' is all about how far the deck sits above the valley floor, while 'tallest' refers to the physical height of the structure - the soaring pylons that anchor the suspension cables.
Europe still reigns supreme in that category, thanks to France’s Millau Viaduct, with towers soaring to 343 metres (1,125 feet) above the Tarn Valley.
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is still a massive success for China, though; from thrill-seekers bungee jumping off it to commuters saving hours of their lives by driving over it, the structure will go down in history as an unforgettable feat of engineering.
Topics: China, Travel, World News, Technology
Ellie Kemp