World's longest dual-purpose bridge takes a further step toward completion

The Xihoumen Rail-road Bridge is under construction. [Photo/WeChat account: nbfb0574]

The construction of the Xihoumen Rail-road Bridge has reached a significant milestone with the recent completion of concrete pouring for the pile foundation of its No 5 pier.

Spanning a total length of 3,118 meters and with a bridge deck width of 68 meters, the Xihoumen Rail-road Bridge is set to become the world's longest dual-purpose bridge with the widest sea-crossing currently under construction.

The bridge's design concept revolves around a unique arrangement, featuring a railway in the middle and roads on both sides. The railway section consists of a double-track passenger dedicated line capable of accommodating speeds of up to 250 kilometers per hour, while the road section features a two-way, six-lane expressway designed for speeds of up to 100 km/h.

Comprising a total of eight piers, the bridge's No 5 and No 4 piers serve as the primary tower piers in the east and west, respectively. Notably, the No 5 main tower pier's foundation is an engineering marvel in itself, encompassing 18 drill piles with a record-high diameter of 6.3 meters. These piles, each measuring 84 meters in length, penetrate the rock to a depth of approximately 37 meters, ensuring the stability and strength of the entire structure.

The Xihoumen Rail-road Bridge plays a vital role as part of the Ningbo-Zhoushan Railway, which connects the city of Ningbo with the neighboring island city of Zhoushan. Stretching over a distance of approximately 77 km, this railway is designed to support high-speed trains traveling at speeds of 250 km/h.

Once completed, this transformative project will address the lack of railway connectivity for Zhoushan, reducing travel time between the city and Ningbo and Hangzhou to just 30 minutes and 1 hour, respectively.