“Largest in China!” That’s what they say about the Nizhou River Grand Bridge. It’s a bold claim but as you stand before it, you can see why. Today, we explore this record-breaking bridge, a vital artery in the Pearl River Delta.
The Nizhou River Grand Bridge isn’t just any bridge. It’s a key part of the Nansha Bridge. This entire structure officially opened on April 2nd, 2019. Before that, it was known as the Humen Second Bridge. The name changed, but its purpose remained. The Nizhou River Grand Bridge connects Guangzhou and Dongguan.
The Nansha Bridge project includes two huge suspension bridges. The Dasha Waterway Bridge is impressive with a 1,200-meter main span. But the Nizhou River Grand Bridge steals the show. Its main span stretches 1,688 meters. That makes it the largest steel box girder suspension bridge in China.
Think about the scale. The Nizhou River Grand Bridge facilitates travel between Shunde, Panyu, and Nansha. It also links cities on the east bank of the Pearl River Delta. This eases traffic through shorter tunnels. It also boosts connectivity in the Greater Bay Area.
Construction was no small feat. Workers poured 18,000 square meters of concrete at once. This happened on March 2nd, 2016. That broke a previous record of 15,000 square meters, which was set by the same project. It was a record for a continuous concrete pour in China. It also became a world record.
The bridge uses high-strength steel wires. These wires have a tensile strength of 1960 MPa. This showcases China’s intelligent manufacturing in bridge construction. The main construction of the Nizhou River Grand Bridge finished on May 25th, 2018.
The entire Nansha Bridge is 13 kilometers long. It starts in Nansha District of Guangzhou. Then it crosses Hai’ou Island. Finally, it ends in Shatian town of Dongguan. The bridge has eight lanes for two-way traffic. The speed limit is 100 kilometers per hour. It is designed to last 100 years.
The bridge was tested rigorously. Load tests for the Nizhou River Grand Bridge finished on March 12th, 2019. Dynamic and static load tests for the Dasha Waterway Bridge were completed two days later. All 3,837 lights were tested on March 21st, 2019. The colorful lights create a magnificent view at night.
On the first day it opened, about 50,000 vehicles crossed the Nansha Bridge. That was 18% of the total daily traffic through the Pearl River estuary. The Dongguan-Panyu Expressway’s first phase opened on April 25th, 2019. This connected the Nansha Bridge to the Guangzhou-Shenzhen Highway.
Mageba, a Swiss company, contributed to the Nizhou River Grand Bridge. They installed 41 meters of TENSA-MODULAR expansion joints. These joints can handle movements up to 1,920 mm. The steel surface has an anti-skid coating for safety.
So, as you gaze at the Nizhou River Grand Bridge, remember its records. Remember its role in connecting cities. Remember the engineering marvel that stands before you. This isn’t just a bridge. It’s a symbol of progress and connection in the heart of the Greater Bay Area.