(ECNS) -- Luding (Dadu Rivier) Bridge on Ya'an-Kargilik County Highway spans the Dadu River in Luding County, Tibetan Autonomous Prefecture of Garze, Sichuan Province.
It shortens the distance between Ya'an City and Luding County, greatly benefitting local inhabitants.
Dubbed the "first bridge in Sichuan and Tibet", the 1,411-meter-long suspension bridge opened to traffic in 2018.
The bridge is located at the intersection of a fracture zone, stretching like a "Y". It performs the greatest in earthquake-resistance compared to other kilometer-long suspension bridges.
A complex wind field also created difficulties in bridge construction. Instant wind speeds here can reach 32.6 m/s, equivalent to a hurricane.
The bridge boasts not only excellent design but also innovations in construction. It won the Gustav Lindenthal Medal, the highest level reward bridge construction, in 2019.
The construction of this bridge achieved a breakthrough in building a kilometer-long suspension bridge in Sichuan Province.
It's also the largest bridge at the start of Sichuan-Tibet Highway. The bridge serves as a reference point for similar future projects.
