Chongqing - China has reached a major milestone on what is billed as the world's largest road-rail suspension bridge currently under construction, advancing a key infrastructure project in southwest China's Chongqing.

A crane lifts the first massive steel truss girder into place on the Huangjuetuo Yangtze River Bridge in Chongqing on November 16, 2025, marking a major milestone as the project enters its upper-structure assembly phase. (Photo/Luo Bin)

On November 16, engineers lifted the first steel truss girder segment onto the Huangjuetuo Yangtze River Bridge, part of the Chongqing-Changshou Expressway Second Route Connection. The operation marks the start of upper-structure assembly and lays the groundwork for full bridge closure in mid-2026, according to project authorities.

The 1,260-meter bridge connects Nan'an District with Liangjiang New Area, a rapidly developing zone renowned for its advanced manufacturing and logistics capabilities. Its 765-meter main span uses a double-tower suspension design. Once complete, the structure will feature a two-level deck: a six-lane expressway on the upper level, space below for a future two-way rail line, and a four-lane urban arterial road on each side.

On November 16, the first steel truss girder of the Huangjuetuo Yangtze River Bridge was slowly hoisted from the surface of the river. (Photo/Luo Bin)

Project site manager Tian Li of China Railway Major Bridge Engineering Group stated that the first segment measures 36.5 meters in width, 22.5 meters in length, and 14 meters in height, weighing approximately 695 tons - roughly equivalent to 350 passenger cars. It is the heaviest single segment ever installed on a bridge in the upper Yangtze River region.

The project uses a "factory-prefabricated girder + on-site hoisting" system. Segments were produced at the Zhongjiang fabrication base in Chongqing and transported 160 kilometers via six river vessels. At the site, a cable-mounted crane lifted the segments directly from the boats, reducing water-operation time and limiting delays caused by river currents and shipping lane controls.

On November 16, technicians work on lifting the first steel truss girder for the Huangjuetuo Yangtze River Bridge. (Photo/Luo Bin)

Safety preparations were extensive. The team developed a dedicated lifting plan and conducted full-process inspections, including checks on sling wear, wire-strand condition, weld strength, load adaptability, and third-party mechanical tests.

The bridge is a key component of Chongqing's "eight horizontal, seven vertical, nine connector" expressway grid - a strategic transportation layout supporting the city's rapid growth. Once operational, it will connect major corridors, including the Inner Ring Expressway, Yuhang Avenue, and the Outer Ring Expressway, diverting traffic from nearby Cuntan and Chaotianmen bridges and easing congestion across central Chongqing.