New Huangpu River bridge marks construction milestone

THE underwater foundation of a new bridge across the Huangpu River was completed yesterday, marking a milestone in efforts to improve connectivity between Minhang and Fengxian districts.

The almost 2-kilometer-long Kunyang Road bridge, the 13th bridge spanning the river, will link Kunyang Road in Minhang and the Puwei Highway in Fengxian. The structure is planned to ease congestion on other cross-river bridges and thoroughfares in the city’s southwest, said Shanghai Tunnel Engineering Co Road and Bridge Group.

According to project manager Wu Jun, the project will be one of the first double-layer bridges in Shanghai — the upper level for vehicles and the lower level for pedestrians and cyclists.

The single-tower cable-stay bridge will have eight elevators on each side of the river to serve non-car traffic.

A construction platform covering 800 square meters was also completed on the Huangpu River yesterday.

The underwater foundation and platform are among the most difficult parts of the project, due to passing cargo traffic as well as the depth and speed of river waters, said Liu Jia, deputy chief engineer of the project.

Starting Sunday, workers poured over 4,000 cubic meters of concrete into a waterproof steel mould to finish the foundation and the platform, with minimal interference to ships along the river, Liu added. About 2,000 ships pass the area daily.

The main tower of the bridge will be 136 meters above the water, and the structure is scheduled for completion in 2019. Prefabrication will be used to minimize shipping disruption and reduce noise and pollution, said Wu.

The Fengxian District government is investing 40 billion yuan (US$5.9 billion) into 19 traffic projects, including the bridge, a Metro line and a busonly road, as well as highways and tunnels to improve its downtown links.