Explore the engineering ingenuity behind a safer bridge, and discover how Chinese infrastructure innovation is turning complex challenges into practical solutions.

The 36-kilometer Hangzhou Bay Bridge is getting an upgrade to its main-pier ship-collision protection system. Once complete, the upgrade will increase protection from the 5,000-tonne vessel class to the 20,000-tonne class.

Undertaken by CCCC, this is China's first project to upgrade ship-collision protection on an existing sea-crossing bridge. Its innovative four-part protection system brings together flexible anti-collision structures, independent protective piers, ductile protection devices and the bridge's main piers to absorb and redistribute impact forces.

Four-in-one integrated collision protection system

To address challenges posed by strong tidal currents, proximity to existing bridge structures and heavy vessel traffic, the project team is advancing construction while safeguarding bridge operations and vessel traffic.