By Zhu Beining

‘Today a major construction stage of the bridge will come: the highway deck will be joined up!’ on 18 January, led by secretary of the working committee of CPC of Shanghai-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge project of China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Yuan Bo, we went towards pier No. 26 along the bridge deck.

On the top of the pier No. 26, there was a 38 m long expansion joint, its width was about 3 m at the south side and 2 m at the north side. It was the last expansion joint of the highway deck of the bridge. As the last casting was completed, the highway deck of the bridge was joined up officially.

‘Expansion joint is the key part of project quality. We must make sure that there is no mistake.’ Project manager of the second division of Shanghai-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge project of China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group Gu Wenbin told the reporter while coordinating the work: they would take half a day off on afternoon of Chinese New year’s Eve, one day off on Chinese New Year, and work on the other days. After casting of highway deck was completed, asphalt laying and supporting facilities installation would started; overhead lines were being installed at the lower railway deck by China Railway Electrification Bureau Group.