Aizhai Bridge

From HighestBridges.com
Jump to navigationJump to search

Aizhai Bridge
矮寨特大桥
Jishou, Hunan, China
1,102 feet high / 336 meters high
3,858 foot span / 1,176 meter span
2012

64Aizhai2013Wide.jpg


Aizhai was once the world’s highest tunnel to tunnel bridge and among a group of around 20 suspension bridges in China to cross a valley so wide it seems to be connecting two mountain ranges. Back in 2012 Aizhai was one of just 4 large span, high level suspension bridges. The first three were the Siduhe, Balinghe and Beipanjiang Hukun bridges.

Of the world's 400 or so highest bridges, Aizhai has the 5th longest span with a tower to tower distance of 1,176 meters / 3,858 feet. Located deep in the heart of China’s Hunan Province near the city of Jishou, the suspension bridge is the largest structure on the Jishou to Chadong expressway with a deck 336 meters / 1,102 feet above the DeHang Canyon and has also become a major tourist attraction with a walkway partly made of glass accessible via a large group of escalators and elevators.

The main cables have a diameter of 85cm composed of 169 steel strands. The cables follow a layout of 242+1176+242 meters with a sag ratio of 9.6 to 1. The steel truss is 7.5 meters deep and 27 meters wide with each standard section being 14.5 meters long. The unique rail and cable launching method of the 69 truss sections allowed the completion of the entire truss in only 3 months. The entire 1,000 meter long truss weighs 8,000 tons.

The two tunnels on either side of the Aizhai bridge allowed the engineers to use the mountain top for the location of one of the towers, reducing its height to just 50 meters / 165 feet - unusually short for a bridge with a span nearly as long as the Golden Gate bridge at 1,176 meters / 3,858 feet. In addition to cost savings, the stubby support also allows the bridge to blend more naturally into its surroundings. The taller bridge tower is no less unique with side span cables that soar down the backside of a mountain, making first time visitors quizzical as to what exactly lies ahead. With most of the structure hidden from view, the bridge will come as a jaw-dropping surprise whether you enter the canyon from either tunnel. Due to a gap of approximately 100 meters / 328 feet between the last truss suspenders and the tops of the bridge towers, the engineers added some additional ground anchored suspenders to stabilize the two massive suspension cables and reduce any oscillations that could damage other components of the bridge. The overlook and visitors center offer additional views of the broad valley.

Click on the excellent YouTube channel "Chinese Bridge" to see a video of the Aizhai Bridge. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3hQf16PFYRw


Aizhai1176FinalElev.jpg

Aizhai Bridge Elevation


Aizhai1176FinalFullElev.jpg

Aizhai Bridge Full Elevation


2012年即将通车的矮寨大桥,将会是世界上最高的两端均与隧道相接的悬索桥,同时,也将是中国的第四座跨越大峡谷的悬索桥,它将跨越的峡谷如此之宽,令其远观就像与两侧山峦相连一样。另三座跨越峡谷的大桥分别是四渡河大桥、坝陵河大桥和北盘江大桥(2009年建成,镇胜高速上)。位于中国湖南省腹地并毗邻湖南吉首市,矮寨大桥是吉首至茶洞高速公路上最大的桥梁,其桥面将距德夯大峡谷谷底336米。

矮寨大桥两端接线的隧道,给桥梁工程师们提供了足够的场地条件,使他们能够在山顶上建设主塔,这样就能将其中一侧的主塔的高度减少到仅仅只有50米-这对一座跨径几乎与1176m跨的金门大桥相当的悬索桥而言,主塔高度可谓是相当之矮。除了建设成本上的节约之外,粗壮的支承体系允许桥梁结构能够有更多的挠曲空间。较高一侧的主塔也依然独特,边跨的钢主缆索远远的飞跃到隧道口后方的锚固到高山侧崖上,这些都令甫至胜境的游客不禁的好奇坐落前方的究竟为何。结构大部分都在崇山峻岭之间隐藏着,不论你从峡谷哪一侧的隧道驶出,大桥的出现绝对足以让人惊讶的下巴掉下来。由于在大桥最后的桁架节段吊杆与主塔塔顶间约有100米的间隔,工程师们便增加了一定数量的地锚拉杆,以稳定两根庞大的悬索钢缆并可以尽量降低会造成大桥其他构件破坏的振动。建设一个瞭望观光平台和旅游中心更将能提供欣赏大峡谷的宽广视角


Aizhai&TownBuildings.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiWideView4.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiRednet.cn.jpg

Image by Rednet.cn


Aizhai&Cables.jpg


AizhaiAerial.jpg


52AizhaibyRichard.jpg

Image by Richard Scott.


54AizhaiDeckbyJohnMorrison.jpg

Image by John Morrison.


60Aizhai&3Sisters.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


Aizhai&Creek.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


Aizhai2013Wide.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiBridgeCurve.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


75AizhaiNorthAerial copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


76AizhaiCables&SkyAerial copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


77AizhaiDeckDownAerial copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


78AizhaiNorthMountainAerial copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


79AizhaiAnchors&PlazaAerial copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


80AizhaiPlazaDownAerial copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


85AizhaiEscalatorAerial copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


81AizhaiTower&TunnelAerial2 copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


82AizhaiVisitorsAerial3 copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


83AizhaiTrussBusAerial copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


84AizhaiRedTruckAerial copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


94AizhaiEscalatorByEric copy.jpg

Aizhai Bridge plaza. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


95AizhaiEscalatorStairByEric copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiPlazaAerial.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiParkingAerial.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


96AizhaiCurvedGlassByEric copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


97AizhaiTrussBoxByEric copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


98AizhaiElevator&SkyByEric copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


99AizhaiGlassElevatorHallByEric copy.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


93AizhaiJohnViewByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski.


94AizhaiGlassPanelGirlByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski.


95AizhaiGlassJohnByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski.


96AizhaiEricGlassByJohn copy.jpg

Image by John Brignoli.


97AizhaiGlassDeck146mtrHByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski.


98AizhaiFootwalkGateByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski.


99AizhaiBenByJohn copy.jpg

Image by John Brignoli.


101AizhaiGlassEastSideByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski.


102AizhaiZhuFanByEric.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski.


103AizhaiXiJinpingVisit.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski.


103AizhaiTowerByHan.jpg

Image by Han Ruoyu.


104AizhaiTunnelByJohnHart.jpg

Image by John Hart.


105AizhaiGroupFromTadashi.JPG

Image by Richard Scott.


AizhaiTrussByRichard.jpg

Image by Richard Scott.


107AizhaiVisitorsByRichard.jpg

Image by Richard Scott.


AizhaiLadderWide.jpg

A 310 meter high sky ladder was placed from the deck to the ground. Not sure what it was used for. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiSkyLadder.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiTightrope&Ladder.jpg

A view of the ladder with the older tightrope still up from a 2012 event. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


41AizhaiTower&TightropeByEric.jpg

One of the highest tightrope walks ever took place during a 2012 event with Chinese walker Adili Hoshur and 2 of his assistants walking 300 meters above the DeHang River on a wire 1,400 meters long parallel to the Aizhai Bridge. They had no safety harnesses or leashes to save them if they lost their balance. Adili has already performed at least three other record breaking high wire acts in China including a walk 662 meters above the floor of the Tiankeng Cave in Hubei Province on August 22nd, 2003. Canadian Jay Chochrane crossed over the Qutang Gorge of the Yangtze River on a 402 meter high wire in 1995 and inspired Adili to repeat it again on June 23, 1997 with a much quicker walk time of just 13 minutes and 48 seconds. On October 6th, 2000 Adili also crossed between Mount Zhurong and Mount Furong in Hunan Province on a wire 436 meters high. These are the highest known wire walks in addition to Philippe Petit's famous 417 meter high walk between the two towers of the World Trade Center in New York City on August 7, 1974. In the United States, Nik Wallenda did a 457 meter high walk across the Little Colorado River canyon near Cameron, Arizona on June 23, 2013 with no safety leash.

You can see an entire CCTV produced documentary on Adili's amazing career at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RO7g8bf-PEM Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


42TightropeByAdele.JPG

Image by Adele.


1AizhaiWirewalkersByChinaNews.jpg

Image by Chinanews.com


4AizhaiWirewalkersByChinaNews.jpg

Image by Chinanews.com


6AizhaiWirewalkersByChinaNews.jpg

Image by Chinanews.com


7AizhaiWirewalkersByChinaNews.jpg

Image by Chinanews.com


AizhaiTightropeCable.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiTightropeNorthAnchor.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiWireAnchorage.jpg

North anchor tightrope. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiSideView.jpg


Aizhai3Sisters&Hotel.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiLonglens.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiBridge&Trees2.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiBridge&RiceField.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiShortTowerView3.jpg

The truss was nearly complete in mid-August 2011. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiShortTowerSide.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


118AizhaiLonglensByFilmer.jpg

Image by John Filmer.


120AizhaiTowerByJorson.jpg

Image by Jorson.


121AizhaiBridgeByPeter.jpg

Image by Peter Wu.


122AizhaiAnchorageByFilmer.jpg

Image by John Filmer.


AizhaiAnchorageRender.jpg


AizhaiCloudDrone.jpg


AizhaiNorthAnchorRender2.jpg


AizhaiSideStructureRender.jpg


AizhaiSouthAnchorRender.jpg


AizhaiTieDownRender.jpg


AizhaiTunnelEntranceDrone.jpg


123AizhaiRoadwayByPeter.jpg

Image by Peter Wu.


AizhaiLonglensTruss.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiBridgeView7.jpg

The safety net gave the bridge a unique green glow during the construction phase. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiBridgeView9.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiSpinning.jpg


AizhaiAwesome.jpg

An early construction view from 2009 after the main cables were completed.


133Aizhai&TelevisionMan.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


134AizhaiFromHotelByFilmer.jpg

Image by John Filmer.


135AizhaiElevator2014.jpg

The nearly complete elevator for tourists to descend from the parking area to the bridge truss walkway. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiTrussMoveView.jpg


AizhaiBridgeView15.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiBridgeView20.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiCreek&Bridge2.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiSuperWide.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiTunnel&Cables.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiBridgeDay.jpg

Public bridge day celebration in February, 2012. Image by jt.rednet.cn


AizhaiBridgeDay2.jpg

Note the last set of cable suspenders on the left side are anchored into the ground. Image by jt.rednet.cn


AizhaiSuspendersLonglens.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiCatwalk.jpg


AizhaiCatwalkJump.jpg


AizhaiComplete4.jpg


Aizhai&People.jpg

The Grand Opening Celebration occurred on March 31, 2012.


AizhaiOpeningGirls.jpg


AizhaiReporters.jpg


AizhaiTunnelCover.jpg

Image by voc.com.cn


AizhaiTower&Balloons.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiTunnelCover2.jpg

Image by cfp.cn.


AizhaiSweeper.jpg

A sweeper keeps the beams clean for opening day.


AizhaiTowerCompleteView.jpg

Image by Chinanews.com


AizhaiOpens.jpg

Image by news.rednet.cn.


AizhaiUltralight.jpg

A group of paragliders buzzed across the span.


AizhaiUltralights.jpg


AizhaiOldRoadVoc.jpg

Thousands gathered along the old road that zig zags beneath the new span. Image by voc.com.cn.


Aizhai&Dehang.jpg


AizhaiBalanceBoy.jpg


AizhaiTowerTops.jpg


AizhaiFireworks.JPG

Image by jssxww.cn.


AizhaiNightTowers.jpg


AizhaiLightedSign.jpg


AizhaiNightWide.jpg


AizhaiNightWide2.JPG

Image by jssxww.cn.


AizhaiNightGlow.jpg


AizhaiConstructionShed.jpg

A long temporary construction shed was built below the bridge to protect drivers from falling debris during construction. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiShed&Valley.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiRoadShed.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiRoadShed3.jpg

Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiSouthTowerLonglens.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiTown.jpg

The small town of Aizhai is dwarfed by the bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiBridgeTrussDeck.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiBridgeFromMountain2.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiDeckTrussLonglens2.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiLonglensDeck.jpg

Workers had already begun installation of the smaller truss stringer beams on top of the larger truss. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiExpansionConnection.jpg

The Aizhai Bridge truss connection at the center span. By "locking" the main cables to the deck, the bridge deck steel expands and contracts evenly at the expansion joints located at either end of the truss near the towers.


AizhaiLoadTest.jpg

Aizhai Bridge load test with dozens of gravel filled trucks.


AizhaiLoadTest2.jpg


AizhaiTrussWide.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiMotorEvent.jpg

A motorbike rider takes his first ride across the span.


AizhaiSuspenderView3.jpg


AizhaiShortTowerSide3.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiShortTowerView.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiNorthAnchorage2.jpg

The tunnel anchorage on the North side of Aizhai Bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiSouthTowerLonglens2.jpg

The south tower cliff is covered with bolts to ensure the ground remains stable. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiBridge&Slope.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiHeightMeasure.jpg

A measurement drawing of the deepest section of the valley.


AizhaiNewRiverComparison.jpg

A direct size comparison between the Aizhai and New River Gorge Bridges.


AizhaiDeHangCanyonSign.jpg

The Dehang Canyon road dead ends in 4 kilometers where a special minority village is located. As an invited guest you can see a spectacular show with music, colorful costumes, dragons, a fire walker and more! Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiDeHangEntranceGate.jpg

The Dehang Canyon entrance gate. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiDeHangCanyonEntrance.jpg

The DeHang Canyon is an official Chinese National Park. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


AizhaiDragonGeorgesAlban.jpg

Image by Georges.


AizhaiFirewalkerGeorgesAlban.jpg

Image by Georges.


AizhaiBridge&Farmhouse.jpg

Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


Aizhai&3Sisters.jpg

The limestone rock formation known as the 3 sisters stand high above the gorge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


Aizhai3SistersStreet.jpg

The town of Aizhai with the 3 sisters in the distance. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com


Aizhai infinity pool.jpeg


Aizhai infinity pool2.jpeg


Aizhai infinity pool3.jpeg


Aizhai infinity pool4.jpeg


AizhaiSatellite.jpg

Aizhai Bridge satellite image.


AizhaiSatelliteWide.jpg


Click on Page 2 for the Aizhai Truss Launch, Construction Views and More!

This entry has 4 pages: 1 | 2 | 3 | 4