Latest news with #MamdouhEl-Badry
Newsweek
02-06-2025
- Science
- Newsweek
How World's Highest Bridge in China Compares to Golden Gate
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. The Huajiang Canyon Bridge in China is set to open this month after three years of construction, becoming the highest bridge in the world. The suspension bridge, which has been raised 2,051 feet above the canyon, will rise above the previous title holder, the Duge Bridge, which is 1,854 feet above the ground and is also in China. The Context Construction on the Huajiang Canyon Bridge began in 2022, in China's southwestern Guizhou region. It's scheduled to open this month after almost three years of work, despite the difficult mountain terrain in Guizhou. Once fully operational, the bridge will reduce the travel time across the canyon from more than an hour to just three minutes. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge under construction on November 27, 2024, in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, China. On January 17, 2025, the bridge was connected across the canyon. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge under construction on November 27, 2024, in Qiandongnan Miao and Dong Autonomous Prefecture, Guizhou Province, China. On January 17, 2025, the bridge was connected across the canyon. Tang Zhe/China News Service/VCG via AP What To Know At 2,051 feet above the canyon floor, the Huajiang Canyon Bridge is already one of the tallest structures in the world. For comparison, the Golden Gate Bridge in California is just 220 feet above the water level, almost 10 times lower than its Chinese counterparts. Completed in 1937, the Golden Gtate Bridge is 746 feet high (including the towers), meaning it could fit under the Huajiang Canyon Bridge more than twice. The highest suspension bridge in the U.S. is the Royal Gorge Bridge in Colorado, which was completed in 1929 and is suspended 956 feet above the Arkansas River. The Huajiang Canyon Bridge has an official opening date of June 30, which means it was completed in less than three years, well ahead of schedule. Local Chinese media reported that builders worked on the structure throughout holidays to meet the deadline. The Huajiang Canyon Bridge is a suspension bridge, which means it hangs the main deck from vertical suspenders at both ends. This design is best suited for very long main spans that need some leeway, as the design is relatively flexible. Huajiang Canyon Bridge, set to be the world's tallest at 625m, spans 2,890m. A marvel of Chinese engineering, it's nearing completion for a 2025 — China Perspective (@China_Fact) May 29, 2025 What People Are Saying Mamdouh El-Badry, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Calgary, told Newsweek:"In other parts of the world, a project of this scale would typically take five to 10 years from groundbreaking to completion, depending on environmental, political and logistical factors. "Over the past 20 years, China has adopted a top-down approach to infrastructure, giving priority to large-scale projects to drive economic development and regional connectivity. This includes massive investment, fewer hurdles and streamlined approval processes compared to many Western countries which often face lengthy environmental reviews, funding uncertainties and local opposition, which can delay or often block major infrastructure efforts." What Happens Next The bridge will open properly for vehicle use on June 30. Chinese authorities hope it will help stimulate the Guizhou region's economy.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Yahoo
World's tallest bridge set to open in China very soon
The world's tallest bridge is set to open this summer—and its height is not for the faint of heart. Constructed in just three years for roughly $283 million, China's Huajiang Canyon Bridge spans the Beipan river in southwestern Guizhou. In order to take advantage of reducing the once hour-long trip between mountains to a matter of minutes, drivers will need to be comfortable with traveling a roadway that's 2,051 feet above a mountain gorge. That's 275 taller than New York City's One World Trade Center skyscraper. While an undeniable feat of engineering, China is no stranger to vertigo-inducing suspension bridge projects. Prior to Huajiang Canyon Bridge's completion, the country already had eight of the top ten tallest bridges in the world, as well as 43 of the top 50. The current record-holder—the 1,854-foot-tall Duge Bridge—is also located in China. For this new bridge, engineers opted for a suspension bridge design given the difficult environmental conditions given Huajiang Canyon's height. Suspension cables extending from two 860-foot-tall towers hang over the 4,660-foot main span over the river, and were specifically constructed to withstand the strong wind resistance typical at that altitude. The bridge's main load-bearing steel truss structure includes 93 segments totalling about 22,000 tons, or around the same weight as two Eiffel Towers. Speaking with Newsweek, University of Calgary professor of civil engineering Mamdouh El-Badry explained construction likely required 'cable crane systems, modular deck sections, and high precision anchoring.' Engineering factors went far beyond the project's height. The extremely mountainous Guizhou region would have made transporting the construction materials a lengthy, difficult process, while the plateau's atmospheric differences between daytime and evening are responsible for frequent high winds and adverse weather conditions. 'Despite its scale, the bridge has a slim profile and sleek design, which reduces wind resistance and material use and minimizes visual disruption to the canyon environment,' added El-Badry. Even with these challenges, China managed to complete Huajiang Canyon Bridge in only three years and ahead of schedule. In comparison, the Gordie Howe International Bridge that connects Detroit and Windsor, Ontario, will have taken over seven years to finish by the time it opens for traffic in Fall 2025. Unlike Huajiang Canyon, the Gordie Howe is only 722 feet tall. However, there are understandable reasons for the lengthier construction time. Engineering projects in the United States are subject to numerous logistical, environmental, and political regulations. China's centralized state-run government, meanwhile, isn't beholden to the same oversight or concerns, allowing the country to fast-track endeavors like the Huajiang Canyon Bridge regardless of local pushback or ecological concerns.
