Zongxihe Footbridge

Zongxihe Footbridge
总溪河特大桥
Weixinzhen, Guizhou, China
(656) feet high / (200) meters high
1,171 foot span / 540 meter span
2013-2016

This gargantuan suspension footbridge was constructed for workers to access both sides of the river gorge. With a main span of 540 meters this is the longest Tibet-style footbridge ever built exceeding the length of even the Brooklyn Bridge. Only the Dimuhe construction footbridge to the south was nearly as large with a main span of 510 meters. They are also the first two footbridges in the world to be higher then 200 meters.

With a deck just 10 feet lower then West Virginia's New River Gorge Bridge, the upcoming Zongxihe Bridge is going to be one of the world's most impressive highway arches. Like most of China's largest arch spans, Zongxihe will be a concrete filled steel tubular bridge where the main ribs are filled with concrete. Once hardened, the concrete solidifies and stiffens the arch, improving the compressive strength of the entire structure. The north-south crossing will be one of the highest bridges along the G76 expressway between Bijie and Liupanshui in Guizhou Province.

Among all the world's arch spans Zongqihe will rank 9th in height. Expect a 2015 opening.