By Zhu Beining

Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River highway and Railway Bridge was open officially at 10 on 1 July. It is a ‘three in one’ cross river way which consists of highway, passenger and cargo line railway and high speed railway. Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong railway was also open on the day.

Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong highway and Railway Bridge is the key point and control project of Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong railway. It was initiated and led by China State Railway Group Co., Ltd., designed by China Railway Major Bridge Reconnaissance and Design Institute and built by China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group. The construction lasted 6 years and 4 months.

It is learnt that the highway and railway joint part is 6993 m long. It has two floors. Upper floor is two way six lane Xitong highway. Bottom floor includes four railway lines. Among them, two lines are Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong railway which is open this time, the other two lines are reserved for Tongsujiayong railway cross river passage.

Vice chief engineer of construction department of the bridge Yan Zhigang introduced that it is the 1st highway and railway dual use cable stayed bridge with over 1000 m span in the world. It used a lot of new materials, new structures, new facilities and new crafts, created many world records.

It is learnt that the bridge’s operation will connect highway net on the two sides of the Yangtze River effectively, ease the transport pressure of Su Tong Yangtze River Highway Bridge and Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge. Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong railway is 143 km long. It starts at Nantong, Jiangsu in the north, crosses the Yangtze River, passes Zhangjiagang, Changshu and Taicang in Suzhou, and ends at Jiading district of Shanghai. The shortest travel time between Nantong to Shanghai by train is reduced from 3.5 hours to 1 hour and 6 minutes.