On August 4, China\'s top expert group led by Ma Tinglin, “National Engineering Design Master” and professor-level senior engineer of China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group Co. Ltd, has completed and approved in principle the project feasibility report review of the Yichang Miaozui Yangtze River Bridge, and has made  recommendations on further optimizing the project feasibility study report. The meeting was presided over by Wang Yuxiang, Deputy Director of the Provincial Development and Reform Commission, with presence of the city leaders including Song Wenbao, Yuan Weidong, heads of the provincial units, and related experts. The expert group agreed with the plan that the bridge locates approximately 2.7 km from the Gezhouba Dam, which will serve as an important transportation link to the Xiba region.

On the same day, Zhang Lixin, Director of the Municipal Construction Committee and General Manager of the Municipal Investment Company, on behalf of the owners unit signed the " Yichang Miaozui Yangtze River Bridge Project Design Contract" with heads of China Zhongtie Major Bridge Reconnaissance & Design Institute Co., Ltd.（BRDI） and Wuhan Municipal Engineering Design Institute Co., Ltd., and signed the "The Yichang Miaozui Yangtze River Bridge Project Design Consulting Contract" with the Bridge Branch of the CCCC Second Highway Consultants Co. Ltd （CCSHCC）。 The signing of two contracts marks the last pre-construction stage of the Yichang Miaozui Yangtze River Bridge Project.

The bridge is designed as a two-way six-lane city trunk road, with a total length of 3229 meters; the designed speed is 60 km/h, and that of interchange and ramp is 30-40 km/h; the navigable water level is 37.41 m -52.77 m, and the navigable clear height is not less than 18 meters. The designed flood control capacity is 300 years, and the seismic intensity is 7 degrees; the design security level is level 1, and the designed basis is 100 years. There will be no toll booths, and the designed load standard is highway grade I, but it would restrict large truck traffic as it is a bridge in the downtown.

As planned, the construction of the bridge is to start in October, and the construction period is 36 months.

（By correspondent Ye Bangbin and reporter Li Yingxin）