Furongjiang Bridge Wulong
Furongjiang Bridge Wulong
武隆芙蓉江大桥
Haokouxiang, Chongqing, China
787 feet high / 240 meters high
755 foot span / 230 meter span
2009
The 5th highest beam span on earth, the Furongjiang River Bridge is a 2-lane crossing with an unusually large main span of 230 meters. The bridge is very similar to the Liuguanghe Bridge in Guizhou Province but about 25 percent lower in height.
Located in a remote region of Chongqing Province, the Furong River is one of Western China's largest rivers emptying into the even greater Wujiang River about 25 kilometers downstream of the bridge. The span configuration is 132 +230 +132 meters with approach spans adding up to a total length of 539 meters and a width of 9 meters. The two main piers are 106.5 and 54.5 meters tall. The main span beam is 13.5 meters over the piers and 4 meters deep at midspan. The road deck is 7 meters wide.
During the final stage of construction, an unfortunate accident occurred when an aerial cableway container holding more then 20 workers fell 9 meters onto the partially built road deck after the cable snapped. 11 workers died and 12 more were seriously injured from the tragic incident which took place at around 10pm in heavy rain.
Another high beam bridge in the region is the Gouearxia Bridge which crosses a tributary of the Furongjiang and is about 150 meters from deck to water.
The Furongjiang gorge looking north from the deck of the beam bridge. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The east pier of the Furongjiang Bridge is 110 meters tall. Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
The Furong River gorge looking south. Image by Bruce Lee.
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by www.77700002.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Image by Eric Sakowski / HighestBridges.com
Construction view during the early stages of the cantilevered beam spans.
A view of the bridge just after the cableway accident. Image by Xinhuanet.
Furongjiang Bridge incident construction supervisors and accident inspectors.
Furongjiang Bridge Wulong satellite image.
Furongjiang Bridge Wulong location map.