On March 8, a 160-meter-long single-tower cable-stayed bridge, part of Xi'an's Xingfu Road North Extension Project in Shaanxi province, was successfully rotated 69.45 degrees counterclockwise in 120 minutes, clearing the Longhai Railway without disrupting train traffic. 

A 160-meter-long single-tower cable-stayed bridge, part of Xi'an's Xingfu Road North Extension Project in Shaanxi province, is successfully rotated 69.45 degrees counterclockwise in 120 minutes, March 8, 2025. [Photo provided to China.org.cn]

Weighing 48,000 metric tons, it set a national record for the heaviest multi-directional asymmetrical cable-stayed bridge rotation.

According to Xu Liyang, project manager at China Construction Sixth Engineering Bureau Corp., Ltd., the bridge is a key component of the overpass interchange spanning the Longhai Railway. To avoid disrupting heavy rail traffic, engineers opted for a rotational construction method, a major engineering feat that marks a significant milestone in the project.

Achieving millimeter-level precision was critical. The construction team used an intelligent traction control system, real-time monitoring, and BeiDou satellite positioning to track speed and spatial positioning. Four 1,000-metric ton hydraulic jacks ensured the bridge was rotated with extreme accuracy.

The Xingfu Road North Extension Project, commissioned by China Construction Sixth Engineering Bureau Corp., Ltd. and China State Construction Silk Road Investment Co., Ltd., is a crucial link between Xingfu North Road and Guangyuntan Avenue, forming part of Xi'an's "Seven Horizontal, Ten Vertical" expressway network. Once completed, the drive between Xingfu Road and Guangyuntan Avenue will be reduced from 20 minutes to just 5 minutes, easing congestion on East Second Ring Road and boosting regional economic growth.