A key bridge on the Zhangjiagang section of the Nantong-Suzhou-Jiaxing-Ningbo High-speed Railway reached a major construction milestone from July 23-24, as the main span of the continuous beam bridge crossing the Shanghai-Wuhan Expressway was successfully closed.
A key bridge on the Zhangjiagang section of the Nantong-Suzhou-Jiaxing-Ningbo High-speed Railway is successfully closed from July 23-24, marking the completion of all major subgrade and bridge works. [Photo/WeChat account: zhangjiagangfabu365]
As one of the project's key construction milestones, the bridge carries both the upbound and downbound railway lines. Completion of the mid-span closure lays a solid foundation for the next stages of construction, including beam erection and ballastless track installation.
The engineering work posed significant technical challenges. The continuous beam bridge was constructed diagonally above the busy Shanghai-Wuhan Expressway, while both railway lines also span a high-pressure natural gas pipeline with a diameter of 600 millimeters, requiring stringent safety measures and precise construction management.
Designed for speeds of up to 350 kilometers per hour, the railway will run from Nantong West Station in Jiangsu province to Ningbo in Zhejiang province via Suzhou and Jiaxing. The line will include 11 stations: Nantong West, Zhangjiagang, Changshu West, Suzhou North, Suzhou East, Suzhou South, Jiashan North, Jiaxing South, Haiyan, Cixi and Zhuangqiao.
Construction of all major subgrade and bridge works on the Zhangjiagang section has now been completed. The railway is scheduled to open by the end of 2027.
Once operational, the new line will reduce travel time between Zhangjiagang and Hangzhou to around one hour, further strengthening the city's role as a regional transportation hub.