Convoy of 96 trucks weighing 3,360 tons passes over world's highest bridge in China

(Dan Tri) - The Huajiang Gorge Bridge in Guizhou province successfully passed a load test on August 25, before officially going into operation at the end of September.

On August 25, a convoy of 96 trucks, weighing a total of 3,360 tons, drove along the Huajiang Gorge Bridge in Guizhou Province (China) - a bridge that will become the highest bridge in the world in the future.

With the successful test results, the project is expected to officially go into operation at the end of September.

According to design engineers, the simulated traffic jam is the final structural performance test for the bridge’s major components to see how they can withstand the load. This is a very important test, marking an important step towards the bridge’s inauguration in the near future.

The Huajiang Gorge Bridge has passed the load test (Photo cut from clip).

The Huajiang Gorge Bridge is located in Guizhou Province in southwestern China. This is a mountainous area with very complex terrain. Construction began on January 18, 2022, and was originally scheduled to open on June 30. However, due to various reasons, the opening date was pushed back to the end of September.

The project is a steel truss suspension bridge with a total length of 2,890m, 625m above the river level. The total construction cost of the project is equivalent to 283 million USD. Because it crosses the majestic Huajiang Gorge, it is also known as China's "earth crack".

The construction of the Huajiang Bridge is part of China’s nationwide infrastructure drive, particularly in relatively underdeveloped mountainous areas such as Guizhou province, which is about 1,290km west of Shenzhen.

The project is also an important link on the highway, contributing to the locality's ongoing efforts to connect its rugged hinterland through modern highways.

A convoy of 96 trucks passed over the bridge to inspect its structure (Photo: China Daily).

As the only province in China without a plain, Guizhou has long relied on tunnels and bridges to cross its rugged karst terrain. The mountainous province is now home to more than 30,000 bridges, including three that rank among the world’s highest.

According to China Daily , nearly half of the world's 100 highest bridges are located in Guizhou province, making the locality known as the "world's bridge museum".

The total length of bridges built and under construction in Guizhou is more than 5,400 km - nearly equal to the total length from north to south of one part of China.

For the communities living on both sides of the river, the Huajiang Gorge Bridge is not only a record-breaking project, but also a project that transformed an impassable canyon into a fast-moving route. It is also a testament to the fact that even the most rugged terrain in China can be connected span by span.

Not only breaking the previous record for the world's highest bridge, also held by China - the 565m-high Beipanjiang Bridge - the Huajiang Bridge, when put into operation, will help vehicles such as cars and trucks move more easily when passing through this area.

The Huajiang Gorge Bridge is about to open, becoming the highest bridge in the world (Photo: News).

The rugged Guizhou mountains make it difficult to transport construction materials, according to Mamdouh El-Badry, a professor of civil engineering at the University of Calgary. In addition, the difference in air temperature between day and night creates strong winds and unfavorable weather, which also make construction difficult.

At present, the Beipan Bridge (or Duge Bridge) located in the border area between Guizhou and Yunnan provinces is the record holder for the highest bridge in the world.

This is a 4-lane cable-stayed bridge, located at an altitude of more than 565m above the Bac Ban River, with a length of 1,341m. The project has held the world record since 2016.

Since the opening of Bac Ban Bridge, it has helped boost tourism and the economy of neighboring localities, shortening driving time from 5 hours to just 1 hour. The project has a total investment of about 147 million USD.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/du-lich/doan-96-xe-tai-nang-3360-tan-di-qua-cau-cao-nhat-the-gioi-o-trung-quoc-20250827115640948.htm