Difference between revisions of "Xialaoxi Bridge"

Revision as of 18:01, 4 November 2009

Xialaoxi Bridge
下涝溪大桥
Yichang, Hubei, China
(480) feet high / (146) meters high
525 foot span / 160 meter span
1996

Constructed in 1996, the Xialaoxi arch bridge is the largest structure on the TGP expressway, a 4-lane highway constructed to assist in the building of the monstrous 3 Gorges Dam. Short for Three Gorges Project, the TGP winds along the north side of the Yangtze River for 16 miles (16 kms) between Yichang and the dam site. Xialaoxi bridge was constructed using the swing method, a style of construction developed by the Chinese where the two halves of the arch are constructed on falsework on the opposite banks of the gorge and then swung out over the canyon - meeting each other in the middle.

The Xialaoxi arch consists of 4 pairs of parallel dumbbell tubes. Each of the tubes is 100 cm in diameter and is 150 cm apart as measured from the center of the tubes. Resting on a 220 cm ball hinge composed of a pair of closely fitted spherical shells, the two halves of the steel arch were rotated horizontally with hydraulic jacks until they could be closed at the crown. The entire ball hinge and foundation area was then entombed in concrete. The process of filling the tubes with concrete could then begin as well as the erection of the deck spans.

The Xialaoxi gorge is one of the most beautiful places to visit in the entire region below the 3 Gorges dam. There are cliffside caves, suspended walkways and two catenary suspension bridges to cross portions of the river and the shoreline. Paddle boats can be rented for a leisurely trip up the river while thrill seekers can jump from a 200 foot (60 mtr) high bungee platform hanging over the river.