Wanzhou Yangtze River Bridge, Concrete arch bridge in Wanzhou, Chongqing, China
The Wanzhou Yangtze River Bridge is a reinforced concrete arch bridge with a deck carried above the arch, crossing the Yangtze in Wanzhou, Chongqing. Its total length is 864.12 metres, and the arch span measures 420 metres between the ends of the lower chord. The arch is a catenary curve with a rise-to-span ratio of 1/5, built as a box section 7 metres high and 16 metres wide.
Completed and officially opened in 1997, this bridge was recognized as the longest concrete arch bridge in the world at the time of its construction, representing a major achievement in Chinese engineering.
The bridge serves as a symbol of progress and modernization in Wanzhou district, connecting communities and facilitating economic development across the Yangtze River in the Chongqing region.
The bridge carries a major highway with lanes for vehicles and pedestrians. Its deck stands 133 metres above the river, though the Three Gorges Dam reservoir has raised the water and reduced the visible clearance. The structure crosses the Yangtze in Wanzhou, near the Three Gorges Dam.
The bridge features a tubular arch frame filled with concrete embedded into the main structure, a design innovation that addressed engineering challenges posed by the river depth and long span requirements.
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