Chaotianmen Yangtze River Bridge: Construction and Opening

The Chaotianmen Yangtze River Bridge crosses between the banks of the Yangtze in central Chongqing, linking Jiangbeizui, Danzishi, and surrounding roads. Construction began in winter 2004, and the opening ceremony took place on April 29, 2009, after more than four years of work.

The project route is 4.881 kilometers long, including interchanges, approaches, and the bridge. The bridge itself measures 1,741 meters, with a main bridge comprising spans of 190, 552, and 190 meters, totaling 932 meters. Its two decks incorporate road traffic and reserved urban rail space into one structure.

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A consortium of Chongqing Communications Research and Design Institute and China Railway Major Bridge Reconnaissance and Design Institute designed the project. Wang Fumin participated in the overall design, and Duan Xuewei led the main bridge design. The two organizations divided work including overall coordination and substructures on one side and steel-arch structures on the other. In interviews before opening, the designers explained how site conditions influenced the chosen span.

The south-bank pier needed to avoid a deep gully and accommodate riverside roads and green space. Rocky terrain constrained the north bank, while navigation requirements limited the use of river piers. The resulting 552-meter main span reflected the combined demands of the site, traffic, and structure. Although named Chaotianmen, the bridge crosses downstream of Chaotianmen wharf rather than directly at the wharf on the Yuzhong peninsula.

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The main bridge is a three-span continuous half-through steel-truss tied arch. The upper deck carries six road lanes and sidewalks on both sides. The center of the lower deck reserves space for double-track urban rail, with road passages reserved on either side. The large arch ribs and double-deck ties work together to balance horizontal forces within the structure, allowing a support arrangement resembling that of a continuous beam bridge.

The bridge does not use one steel grade throughout. Depending on member forces, the design specifies Q345qD, Q370qD, and Q420qD steel with varying cross-sections. Most joints use spliced connections, while concentrated-force locations such as intermediate supports use integral joints. These distinctions determine the materials and fabrication methods of individual members.

References: [1] [3]

Steel-truss erection proceeded from the side spans, with temporary piers supporting members before the complete structural system existed. As long cantilevers advanced over the river, towers, inclined restraining cables, and side-span counterweights controlled forces, alignment, and resistance to overturning. Temporary facilities no longer visible in the completed bridge were central to construction.

After comparing methods, the builders chose to close the main arch first, install temporary ties, and then complete the other ties and deck members. This reduced weight at the cantilever ends. Closure control involved calculating starting positions and elevations before erection and adjusting for temperature and support movement during installation, so that the geometry of adjoining members matched the design.

References: [4]

Builders found that the deck panels and main trusses did not reach the same temperature in sunlight. Measurements in summer 2008 showed differences of up to 15 degrees Celsius between the upper deck and main truss, and about six degrees for the lower deck. The designers adjusted local connections between the deck panels and trusses to transfer the required shear forces and restrain unfavorable deformation.

This work required actual temperature conditions measured during construction to feed back into connection design. The temporary erection system and the completed traffic-carrying structure also had to be calculated separately as the bridge transitioned between the two.

References: [3] [4]

The bridge held its opening ceremony on the afternoon of April 29, 2009. Xinhua reported that day that its 552-meter main span was then the longest arch-bridge span in the world.

Transitional traffic arrangements followed. The Chongqing Commercial Daily reported that vehicles were barred from the bridge and related interchanges from April 30 to May 3 so residents could visit on foot. Other traffic had to detour, and some connecting interchanges had yet to open. April 29 therefore marked the completion and opening celebration, while normal vehicle operations depended on the subsequent restrictions.

References: [1] [5]