“Spanning the West Branch River, it stands as a testament to Shenzhen’s growth.” This is the Xizhijiang Bridge. Its story is one of constant adaptation and renewal. It reflects Shenzhen’s relentless pace.
The Xizhijiang Bridge is actually a set of bridges. There’s the old, the new and the newer. Each has its own story. The first bridge appeared in 1957. The Provincial Department of Communications invested 500.000 yuan. It built a single-lane wooden structure. It was 220 meters long and 7.5 meters wide. It opened to traffic in 1958.
By 1971, that wooden bridge needed replacing. The city rebuilt it as a reinforced concrete double-curved bridge. In 1973, it was complete. It had five arches spanning 40 meters each. The bridge stretched 236 meters. It had a width of 9 meters including two 1-meter sidewalks. The total area was 2.124 square meters. This new Xizhijiang Bridge became a crucial part of the Shen (Zhen) Shan (Tou) highway. It was the main north-south route in Huizhou.
But time marches on. By the 1990s, this bridge was struggling under heavy traffic. So in 1997, a new bridge was built alongside the old Xizhijiang Bridge. This was to increase traffic capacity. The old bridge served as the main bridge of the Guangzhou-Shantou Highway until 1987. After the Dongjiang Bridge was built in 1987, the traffic was diverted. But Huizhou was growing rapidly. The Xizhijiang Bridge remained a vital link.
The new Xizhijiang Bridge was meant to alleviate pressure. However, its design had flaws. There was no pedestrian walkway. After only 12 years, it too was struggling.
In 2007, inspections revealed problems. Both the old and new bridges were deemed unsafe. The old bridge was classified as a “third-class bridge”. The new bridge was classified as a “fourth-class bridge”. Restrictions followed. Vehicles over 2.2 meters high or weighing over 1.75 tons were banned. This included buses.
Renovations began in 2008. The old Xizhijiang Bridge was demolished. In December 2009, the left side of the new Xizhijiang Bridge opened. The original new bridge closed immediately. On April 28, 2011, after three years of reconstruction, the Xizhijiang Bridge fully reopened. Now with eight lanes.
The Xizhijiang Bridge we see today is a product of constant change. Each iteration tells a story. It reflects Shenzhen’s drive for progress. It stands as a symbol of the city’s dynamic spirit.