Jinshajiang Bridge is the world's largest span suspension bridge
Located in the northwest of Yunnan province, China, the Jinshajiang Bridge is a massive steel-girder suspension bridge crossing the Jinsha River. The high-level crossing forms part of the G4216 Chengdu–Lijiang Expressway, ranking as one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
| Road facts: Jinshajiang Bridge | |
|---|---|
| Location | Yunnan Province, China |
| Route | G4216 Chengdu–Lijiang Expressway |
| Max Height | 461 m (1,512 ft) to original riverbed |
| Main Span Length | 1,386 m (4,547 ft) |
| Opening Year | 2020 |
What are the main engineering and span dimensions of the Jinshajiang Bridge?
Construction on the suspension structure started in 2016 and finished in 2020. Engineers faced severe building obstacles due to the extreme mountain altitude and a high local earthquake risk. The structure features a tower-to-tower main span of 1,386 meters (4,547 ft), making it the longest-span high-level bridge in the world and ranking among the top 15 longest suspension spans on the planet.
How high is the driving deck above the Jinsha River?
The bridge structure stands 461 meters (1,512 ft) above the original, natural surface of Asia’s largest river. However, because of the Jin'an Dam reservoir located directly below the pass, the actual clearance changes depending on water levels. When the reservoir dam is completely full, drivers look down at a direct vertical drop of 335 meters (1,100 ft) to the water surface, a height equivalent to a 110-story building.
How does the Jinshajiang Bridge cut down regional travel times?
The highway link directly connects Panzhihua in Sichuan province with Lijiang in Yunnan province. By replacing the old, winding mountain roads with a direct expressway crossing over the river gorge, the bridge slashes the driving time between Lijiang and Panzhihua from 6 hours down to just 2 hours.
Road suggested by: Jorge Manuel Gómez Sánchez
Pic:Yunnan.cn