Lancangjiang Railway Bridge Darui

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Lancangjiang Railway Bridge Darui
澜沧江大桥
Shanyangxiang,Yunnan, China
890 feet high / 271 meters high
1,122 foot span / 342 meter span
2018

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Due for completion in 2018, the stunning Lancangjiang Railway Bridge is the centerpiece of a new line between the cities of Baoshan and Dali in western Yunnan Province. The new railway bridge crosses the upper reaches of a reservoir that was formed behind Xiaowan, the 2nd highest concrete dam in the world. The spectacular 958 foot (292 mtr) high double curvature structure holds back a body of water some 787 feet (240 meters) deep along the Mekong (Lancang Jiang), a river with several of the largest and highest hydroelectric dams in the world including the Manwan, Dachaoshan, Nuozhadu and Jinghong. The Mekong River is the only international river in Asia linking 6 countries. The river has more species of fish than any other waterway on earth except for the Amazon. The full reservoir is 164 feet (50 meters) deep beneath the new railway bridge.

Instead of using cable stays and tiebacks to build the arch, the two steel truss arch halves were built vertically on either side of the canyon slopes on top of scaffolding. While still in a vertical position, the two halves were then then lowered down over the gorge where they were connected at the crown. A highline was then used to build the vertical spandrel supports and road deck. The total length of the bridge is 698 meters.

The location has become a showcase for 3 high spans including an older suspension bridge, the new railway bridge and an even higher pipeline suspension bridge that is the 4th highest of its type in the world after the Hegigio Gorge Pipeline Bridge in Papua New Guinea, the Wujiang Pipeline Bridge and the Niouc Bridge in Switzerland.


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Lancangjiang River Railway Bridge Elevation


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Construction elevation showing the arch halves that are constructed on scaffolding on the slopes before being positioned vertically and then lowered out over the gorge and connected at the crown.


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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The foundation of the original suspension bridge can be seen when the reservoir is down to the original level of the river. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Another view of the two original crossings including the 2-lane suspension bridge on the right and the one-lane suspension bridge foundation on the lower left. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


LancanjiangRailwayLonglensHighline.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


LancanjiangPipelineFullView.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


LancanjiangPipelinePanorama.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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An old archway frames a section of the famous Silk Road. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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An approach viaduct leads to the tunnel just east of the Lancanjiang River canyon. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


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Lancanjiang Railway Bridge construction site. The two halves of the arch are beginning to rise vertically along either slope.


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An early construction view before the arch foundation was complete.


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The temporary suspension bridge built for access to either side of the gorge. The Xiowan Dam reservoir has not reached the bridge site.


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The highlines and part of a completed arch half on the opposite canyon wall.


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The location will eventually be the home to 3 high bridges including the suspension road access bridge, the railway arch and the pipeline suspension bridge.


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Lancanjiang Railway Bridge satellite image.


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Lancanjiang Railway Bridge location map.


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A map showing the Lancangjiang crossing in the upper right and several of the long tunnels near Baoshan city. On the far left is the Nujiang River.


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Early Lancanjiang Railway Bridge arch proposal.


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The massive Xiaowan Dam that is now the second highest concrete dam on earth after the under construction Jinping Dam.


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Xiaowan Dam during the final stages of construction.


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The completed dam with nearly a full reservoir behind it. The water depth is approximately 787 feet (240 meters) just behind the dam.


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The water level has not yet reached the full pool height of 1,225 meters though the water can be allowed to go as high as 1,240 meters during floods.