Sole tower is capped on new bridge in SW China's Yunnan

The solely tower of the Lyuzhijiang Bridge was capped earlier this month. With a span of 780 meters, the bridge, which is under construction, is expected to be the largest suspension bridge with a single tower and single span in the world.

Rising above the Lyuzhi River, it is part of the expressway linking Yuxi city and Chuxiong Yi autonomous prefecture in Southwest China's Yunnan province.

The first of its kind in China, the bridge is 798 meters long, with its tower reaching 156 meters. It has two lanes in each direction, with a designed speed of 100 kilometers per hour. The inclination of its tunnel-type anchorage on the Yuxi side reaches 54 degrees, the largest among suspension bridges worldwide, designers said.

Engineers at China Railway Group have worked on the project since April 2019, and about 60 percent of the construction structure has been completed. Construction of the solely tower was finished one month in advance, according to the tight schedule, the company said. This major project is set to be finished by the end of 2021.

When opened, the bridge will be the quickest passage linking Yuxi and Chuxiong, and will help promote regional social-economic development along the route, local authorities said.