China opens record-breaking bridge over canyon

[NY Yankee]

I apologize if this is not the correct forum

The world's highest and longest tunnel-to-tunnel bridge has been completed in China. The bridge, named the Aizhai Extra Large Suspension Bridge, will link together two tunnels 1,176 metres apart, and 355 metres above Hunan's Dehang Canyon.

A key section of the 64-kilometre-long Jishou-Chadong Expressway, the bridge features a standard two-way, four-lane motorway. The expressway runs through 18 tunnels in total, which cover about half of its length.

Construction of the bridge started in October 2007, with its main sections being completed at the end of 2011. The bridge was temporarily opened to pedestrians during the 2012 Spring Festival holiday season in February.

The structure is designed to help ease traffic in the mountainous region, where tailbacks are a common occurrence due to its narrow, steep and winding roads.

It has been dotted with 1,888 lights to increase visibility at night

China is also home to the longest bridge in the world. The 164.8km Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge was built in 2010 to carry the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/asia/china/9175337/China-opens-record-breaking-bridge-over-canyon.html

In another 10 years, China will be a superpower. They've already built a new high speed rail system. Now they have another engineering marvel.

 

[Bungle73]

Would that be the same high speed rail network where safety has been severely compromised in its construction, which has already resulted in several deaths? Yes, what a "marvel".

 

[ainsworth74]

In another 10 years, China will be a superpower.

Well assuming they survive demographic car crash that they've created due to the one child policy maybe. But it isn't anything like a sure bet.

 

[the sniper]

In another 10 years, China will be a superpower.

Maybe, but there is a lot of crap waiting to hit the fan in China, particularly on the political front. Their path to continued future success seems far from clear to me anyway.

 

[Butts]

Maybe, but there is a lot of crap waiting to hit the fan in China, particularly on the political front. Their path to continued future success seems far from clear to me anyway.

At least they don't have problems with planning permission

 

[jon0844]

Isn't their economy about to go bad, on account of the fact that as they grow in power (and wealth) they're becoming less competitive. Oh, the irony!

Of course, the same will happen in places like India one day as people want to constantly drive down the price they pay for goods and services.

 

[bb21]

Depending on which angle we look at it, it can be argued that China is already a "superpower".

In 30 years, China might have a bigger economy than the US, however unless drastic changes take place from within on many major fronts, it will not be anywhere near as prosperous a nation as many Western nations. This applies even if one day the amount of wealth per capita catches up with the West.

The biggest challenge facing China is something that might surprise many people - brain drain, and this is possibly the single most important factor which could hamper the progress of the country in years to come.

 

[Xenophon PCDGS]

The biggest challenge facing China is something that might surprise many people - brain drain, and this is possibly the single most important factor which could hamper the progress of the country in years to come.

You can be sure that there are moves afoot by certain large organisations in the USA to see that does indeed occur.

 

[Grantham]

Awesome bridge!

 

[LE Greys]

Awesome bridge!

Glad somebody noticed. There's a pedestrian walkway underneath, that must be fun with cars rumbling overhead and a massive drop below!

 

[Grantham]

Glad somebody noticed. There's a pedestrian walkway underneath, that must be fun with cars rumbling overhead and a massive drop below!

Everyone else seemed too busy wishing away China's chances of being part of the first world that they couldn't see the amazing bridge.

Yeah, that walkway would be a pretty mind blowing stroll.

 

[jon0844]

I am not sure that anyone could 'wish away' anything. What happens will happen.

The bridge does look amazing, but it's okay to raise some concerns about its construction given other incidents. Doesn't mean there IS anything wrong with it.

 

[ainsworth74]

Yes I was one of those people apologies.

So let me now say that does seem to be an amazing piece of engineering and as others have said the views from it must be stunning (if a bit vertigo inducing).