Puli Bridge is a suspension bridge near Xuanwei, Qujing, China. The bridge, at 485 m (1,591 ft), is one of the highest in the world.[Note 1] The bridge forms part of the G56 Hangzhou–Ruili Expressway between Liupanshui and Xuanwei and was opened in August 2015.[1][2] The bridge and associated expressway reduced the travelling time from Xuanwei to the Guizhou border from four hours to one hour.[citation needed] The bridge crosses a small stream beside the Gexiang River gorge.[3]

Puli Bridge

普立大桥
Coordinates26°19′23″N 104°35′12″E / 26.323114°N 104.586747°E / 26.323114; 104.586747
CarriesG56 Hangzhou–Ruili Expressway
LocaleXuanwei, Qujing, China
Characteristics
DesignSuspension
MaterialSteel
Width25.4 m (83 ft)
Height154 m (505 ft)
Longest span628 m (2,060 ft)
Clearance below485 m (1,591 ft)[Note 1]
History
Construction end2015
OpenedAugust 2015
Location
Map

Design and construction edit

The Puli Bridge has a main span of 628 meters (2,060 feet) and a total length of 1,040 meters (3,410 feet). The road deck is 24.5 meters (80 feet) wide and the main suspension cables are 26 meters (85 feet) apart. The bridge cost 440 million yuan (about US$71 million). Similar to the Sidu River Bridge, the first cable used to erect the span (the pilot cable) was placed using a rocket.[4]

Notes edit

  1. ^ a b There is some discrepancy among references regarding the height of the bridge deck above the bottom of the valley. www.wanhuajing.com Archived 2016-02-12 at the Wayback Machine lists the height as 500 m and states it is the third highest in the world. www.highestbridges.com lists the height as 485 m. Guo et. al. state the distance from tower top to valley floor is 450 m.

References edit

  1. ^ 普立特大桥主体工程顺利开工 (in Chinese). mbec5.com.cn/. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  2. ^ "普立特大桥—已建成的世界第一高桥_旅游_万花镜". 普立文化旅游网. Archived from the original on 12 February 2016. Retrieved 31 January 2016.
  3. ^ "Puli Bridge". highestbridges.com wiki. Retrieved 15 April 2013.
  4. ^ Guo, Dajin; Zhou, Wenhuan; Yu, Zhengfu; Xia, Guobang; Li, Xiao; Liu, Wei; Yang, Biyu & Hu, Mingfang (2015). "Use of Rocket Traction Method to Span Pilot Rope for Long Span Suspension Bridge Construction in Mountainous Area" (PDF). TRB 94th Annual Meeting Compendium of Papers. Washington, DC: Transportation Research Board.