Difference between revisions of "Yachi Bridge"
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Revision as of 20:58, 11 May 2016
Yachi Bridge
鸭池河特大桥
Daguanzhen, Guizhou, China
1,444 feet high / 440 meters high
2,625 foot span / 800 meter span
2016
With a height of over 400 meters, the Yachi Bridge is not only the world's second highest cable stayed bridge but also one of the longest with a main span of 800 meters. Wedged between two long tunnels, the 1,461 meter long structure is supported by towers as tall as 258 meters. There is no other cable stayed bridge in the world in a mountain setting as colossal as Yachi Bridge. The 800 meter span is also a record for any truss-deck cable stayed crossing.
Despite an official height of over 400 meters, Yachi Bridge is actually only 306 meters above the surface of a huge reservoir more then 130 meters deep formed by the Yachi Dam that is located just 2 kilometers downstream. The road deck is at elevation 1,276 with the surface of the reservoir at 970 meters.
With steep slopes on both sides of the canyon, Yachi Bridge has unusually short but heavy concrete back spans of only 220 meters that counteract the pull of each of the 400 meter halfs of the 800 meter main span. The span configuration is 71+72+77+800+77+72+71 +8x30 meters. Yachi is the largest bridge on the 77 kilometer Guiyang to Qianxi 贵阳至黔西高速公路 expressway.
Yachi is one of several dozen bridges over the Wu River that are over 100 meters high. No other river on earth has as many high spans across its waters then the Wujiang. The Province of Guizhou has more high bridges within its borders then any other region on earth. All of the high bridges in Europe combined would not equal the number of Guizhou spans that exceed 100 meters in height.
Yachi Bridge might also hold the record for the fastest construction ever for a large size cable stayed span with a total construction time of 3 years. Crews were reportedly working 7 days a week on multiple shifts including holidays.
Image by John Hart.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Richard Scott.
Image by Richard Scott.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
These unique circular anchors will be placed inside the thick concrete back span beams whose weight will be strong enough to counteract the weight of the all steel main span stretching 800 meters across the river channel. This unusual engineering solution was necessary to maintain the equal weight of a balanced cantilever since since the back spans are only half the length of the main span. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Aerial view of the giant reservoir and the east tower.
Aerial view of the west tower that will eventually rise to 258 meters.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Yachi east tower construction in 2014. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Yachi Bridge east tower. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
A view of the taller west tower from the east side. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Base of the west tower. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
West tower construction. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Completed in 1995, the Yachi Dam is located 2 kilometers downstream of the bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Old and new crossing of the Wujiang River 1 kilometer north of the dam. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Tianzhu Peak overlooks the junction of 3 of Western China's greatest waterways - the Wujiang, Sancha and Liuchong Rivers.
Foundation work on one of the Yachi Bridge towers.
Yachi Bridge satellite image.
Yachi Bridge location map.
Guiyang to Qianxi expressway map.