Qingshuihe Bridge
Qingshuihe Bridge
清水河特大桥
Weng'an, Guizhou, China
1,332 feet high / 406 meters high
3,707 foot span / 1,130 meter span
2016
At the time of its opening in 2016, Qingshuihe Bridge surpassed Balinghe Bridge as the highest and longest suspension span in Guizhou Province. The giant crossing is part of the G69 Guiweng or Yinchuan-Baise Expressway 贵瓮高速公路 that connects the capital city of Guiyang with Weng'an. The 230 and 224 meter tall towers support a steel truss main span of 1,130 meters that ranks among the 25 longest spans on earth. The towers are supported by 18 piles with a diameter of 3.5 meters.
The steel deck is made of an orthotropic combination with both the steel plate running surface connected to the truss beams saving both weight and construction time since they are installed at the same time.
An alternate Qingshui River crossing several kilometers to the south was studied that would have had an even greater deck height but the main span would have been much smaller. The highway planners may well have decided to go with the northern route knowing their bridge could then become an even bigger and higher "sequel" to the famous Balinghe Bridge.
Qingshuihe Bridge is one of at least a dozen major suspension bridges that have opened in China since 2009 that have span lengths of approximately a kilometer or longer and deck heights of 200 to 500 meters.
Qingshuihe might also hold the record for the fastest construction ever for a bridge over 1 kilometer in length with a total construction time of 3 years. Crews were reportedly working 7 days a week on multiple shifts including holidays.
在2016年清水河大桥超过了坝陵河大桥成为贵州最长和最高的悬索桥。这座桥是贵瓮高速公路的一部分,该路连接了省会贵阳和瓮安县。两座分别高230米、224米的桥塔支撑起1130米主跨的钢桁梁,使其成为世界主跨最大前二十名悬索桥之一。
在此桥南面有一个选线,如果从那里跨越清水河,将有一座比目前更高但主跨较小的桥梁。最后这条高速公路选择了北线,这样清水河大桥就比著名的坝陵河大桥更大且更高。
清水河大桥是中国2009年后建成的至少一打(十二座)超级高桥之一,其中每座的主跨接近或超过1公里,高度在200米到500米以上。
清水河大桥同时还打破了世界悬索桥施工时间纪录,成为全世界唯一三年内建成的千米以上主跨悬索桥。据报道建设者5+2,白+黑奋战在工地,节假日也不停工
Image by Wu Dongjun.
Image by Wu Dongjun.
Image by Wu Dongjun.
Image by Richard Scott.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Richard Scott.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
The 60 meter high Mianhuadu Bridge strut frame truss crossing is a rare style of bridge to see in China and reminiscent of the famous Bailey Bridge. The 122 meter long structure has a span configuration of 32+51.2+32 meters supporting a deck 6 meters wide. The truss is 4.6 meters high. Image by Ben Usagani.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Mianhuadu Bridge elevation drawing.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by John Hart.
Image by John Hart.
Image by Han Ruoyu.
An older Qingshuihe Bridge drawing showing the T-beam bridge approach on the west end that was redesigned as a series of simple 40 meter approach spans.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
A couple of Russian BASE jumpers leaped from the bridge in late 2016.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by www.wean.com.cn.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Qingshuihe West tower construction in early 2013.
Qingshuihe East tower construction.
Documentary Filming
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Qingshuihe Bridge truss cross section.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Qingshui River upstream canyon view. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Qingshui Dam upstream of the crossing. An alternate route was studied for a suspension bridge across the reservoir just a kilometer upstream of this dam. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The canyon is tighter at this location with steeper slopes and higher cliffs. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Direct size comparison between Qingshuihe and Balinghe Bridges. Drawing by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Qingshuihe Bridge satellite image.
Qingshuihe Bridge satellite image before construction began.
Qingshuihe Bridge location map.