The Zhijiang Yangtze River Bridge, Yichang’s 11th Yangtze River crossing under construction, as a world-class cable-stayed bridge, was successfully closed at around 3:00 p.m. on May 15. It is expected to open to traffic by the end of this year.

　　As a key controlling project of the Dangyang-Zhijiang-Songzi Expressway, the bridge measures 1,549 meters in total length with an 890-meter main span. Built to a six-lane dual-carriageway expressway standard with a design speed of 120 km/h, it is currently the world’s largest steel-UHPC composite girder cable-stayed bridge under construction.

　　Once open, the crossing time for residents on both sides will drop from at least half an hour, with unpredictable waiting, to just five minutes. Specialty agricultural products from Bailizhou, such as pears and cotton, will reach markets nationwide via the bridge-connected road network. (Sanxia Daily: Reporters/Jin Zhi, Zhang Mingwen and Fu Jiangshan, Correspondents/Liao Chengchen and Yang Sisi)