Main Tower of World’s Longest-Span Highway Cable-Stayed Bridge Topped Out in Hubei
The main tower on the north bank of the Guanyinsi Yangtze River Bridge—the world’s longest-span highway cable-stayed bridge—has been successfully topped out in Hubei Province. Constructed by China Railway Construction Corporation (CRCC), the bridge marks a significant milestone in China’s infrastructure development.
As a key component of the Wuhan–Songzi Expressway, the Guanyinsi Yangtze River Bridge features a total length of 1,860 meters, including a central span of 1,160 meters and a 262-meter-tall north tower. The structure sets five world records: it boasts the longest span for both a highway cable-stayed bridge and a hybrid composite girder cable-stayed bridge. It is also the first in the world to employ a hybrid steel-UHPC (ultra-high-performance concrete) structure across a span exceeding 1,000 meters. Additional achievements include the construction of the world’s largest-diameter friction pile group foundation and the widest, heaviest precast sliding concrete girder segments using the short-line match-casting method.
Overcoming difficult geological conditions and complex riverside construction challenges, the engineering team innovated with post-grouting technology in deep gravel layers, significantly increasing the load-bearing capacity of the foundation piles. During the Yangtze River’s low-water season, seven ZJD-4000 drilling machines were deployed to complete 44 piles for what is now the largest friction pile group foundation globally. In a sustainable move, the team transformed temporary cofferdams into permanent flood protection structures, improving safety integration between the bridge and riverbanks.
The construction process of the main tower showcased advanced management and engineering innovations. Despite the complicated design—a diamond-shaped hexagonal cross-section with large chamfers—the team developed proprietary software to swiftly calculate the steel reinforcement’s center of gravity. Ground prefabrication and integral hoisting techniques boosted both accuracy and efficiency. The hydraulic climbing formwork system was also upgraded, allowing steel shell segments to be connected with millimeter-level precision and advancing intelligent, standardized construction methods.
The Guanyinsi Yangtze River Bridge is scheduled for completion in the second half of 2026. Once operational, it will strengthen China’s transportation infrastructure, support the Yangtze River Economic Belt, optimize the expressway network in Hubei Province, and contribute to the province’s broader regional development goals.
