Arches joined on world's longest-span railway arch bridge

The bridge's design was shaped in part by the rugged terrain at the site, said Hu Shan, chief engineer of the project. Steep mountains rise on both sides of the river, making construction particularly challenging. A long-span cable-stayed or suspension bridge would require very tall towers, while a suspension bridge would also need massive anchor blocks, Hu said. Those designs would increase construction costs and cause greater disruption to the surrounding mountain terrain.

The bridge is part of the 315-kilometer Huangtong-Baise Railway, which will link Huangtong in Guizhou with Baise in Guangxi. The line is expected to provide a convenient rail link from southwestern Guizhou to the Beibu Gulf, while supporting the New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor and regional economic development.