Hechi's grand bridge wins world's top engineering honor

The International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering (IABSE) Awards Ceremony for 2024 took place in Zurich, Switzerland, on Nov 12.

Established in 1929, IABSE is one of the most influential international organizations in the field of bridge and structural engineering, the highest number of member countries.

Among the 38 global engineering projects nominated, 13 were from China. The Tian'e Longtan Bridge, funded by Guangxi Transportation Investment Group and constructed by Guangxi Road and Bridge Engineering Group, was honored with IABSE's highest award for large road and rail bridges.

The awards ceremony. [Photo/Guangxi Daily]

Spanning the Longtan Reservoir in Tian'e county, Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region, the project's main bridge is a 600-meter-span upper-carrying rigid-frame concrete arch bridge. It is the largest bridge of its kind anywhere in the world.

The bridge is a crucial project on the Nandan-Tian'e Expressway and a significant part of Guangxi's efforts to actively participate in constructing the New International Land Sea Trade Corridor. It plays a pivotal role in driving the coastal development ambitions of northwest Guangxi and regions such as Yunnan, Guizhou, Sichuan, and Chongqing.

The completion of the bridge is expected to improve the transportation infrastructure in Tian'e, enhancing the investment environment while also strengthening connections with Nanning and Guiyang, bringing tremendous opportunities for the area's high-quality economic and social development.

The Tian'e Longtan Bridge in Tian'e county, Hechi, Guangxi Zhuang autonomous region. [Photo/Guangxi Daily]