Incredible new bridge to become world's highest and cut nearly 70 minutes off journeys
The engineer marvel is likely to open in the second half of 2025.
China is known for constructing some of the most awe-inspiring projects across the world, and it’s not stopping anytime soon. The country is working on an incredible bridge that will become the world’s tallest once constructed, reducing the time required to cross the canyon, from 70 minutes to just a few minutes.
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, which will rise 625 metres above the river, is set to open in the second half of 2025. Touted as the 'world’s highest suspension bridge,' it is almost twice the height of the famous Eiffel Tower. Built at a cost of £216 million ($280 million), the bridge in Guizhou Province is likely to streamline transportation and boost tourism in the area.
According to the reports, the bridge is likely to benefit the cities of Anshun and Guiyang as will drastically reduce the time required to cross the canyon.
Chen Jianlei, deputy director of the Guizhou Transport Department, told state-owned China Daily: "The completion of the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge will strengthen economic ties between Guiyang, Anshun and Qianxinan, fostering regional economic integration."
Alimak, a Stockholm-based company that provided equipment for the construction, previously admitted the project had faced significant challenges because of its location.
It said: "Being in a plateau region intensifies atmospheric temperature differences between day and night, leading to the likelihood of severe convective weather and consistent valley winds throughout the year."
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The bridge's construction started in 2022, and 80% of the work has been completed. The next phase involves installing panel segments between the trusses and is scheduled to resume after the Chinese New Year.
Once finished, it will surpass Beipanjiang Bridge, which is currently the highest suspension bridge in the province.
Spanning over the Beipan River between Guizhou and Yunnan provinces, the bridge stands 565 metres (1,854 feet) above the river.
Opened in December 2016, two years ahead of schedule, the bridge reduces travel time between Guizhou & Yunnan from over four hours to under one hour.
