泉州湾跨海大桥, Cable-stayed bridge in Quanzhou Bay, China
The Quanzhou Bay Bridge is a cable-stayed road bridge whose main span measures 800 metres, with a 400-metre central crossing between two towers. Each tower is a three-column gate design 157 metres tall, and 288 stay cables support the deck. The crossing over the water runs 12.451 kilometres, with eight lanes from the Hanjiang to the Xiutu interchange.
The foundation stone was laid at Xiutu, Hui'an, on 31 December 2009, and work on the approach spans began on 1 January 2010. The main tower design was fixed in March 2011 as a three-pillar classical gate, main works started on 10 January 2012, and the towers were topped out on 30 November 2013. The bridge opened to traffic on 12 May 2015 as Quanzhou's first cross-sea expressway bridge, built for 6.436 billion yuan.
The bridge links areas of historical commerce with modern industrial zones, enabling exchange between established and developing economic regions. It has become a part of daily life for many commuters crossing the bay.
The bridge is a busy transit route, especially during morning and evening rush hours when traffic can be heavy. Access is limited to vehicles on designated lanes, so foot traffic is restricted to specific areas.
The cable towers follow a "three-pillar classical gate" design chosen on 18 March 2011, and the deck hangs from 288 stay cables. The navigation clearance beneath the main span is 44.57 metres, so ships pass under a deck held by a 400-metre main span, the longest element of the 800-metre main bridge.
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