A major bridge in China’s Sichuan province collapsed on Nov.11, just 10 months after it was completed and before it had opened to traffic.
The Hongqi Bridge spans 2,687 feet, with a 722-foot main span and a 564-foot-high central pier. Authorities hailed it as a regional infrastructure milestone.
Chinese state-controlled media blamed a landslide for the collapse. Videos circulating online show a slope giving way and the approach span being destroyed, while the main bridge remains mostly intact.
Expert: Location Matters
Zhu Xueye, a bridge engineer from China currently based in New York, said the landslide triggered the failure.
“The accident started with a slope collapse, which then took out the approach span,” he said. …
Why China’s Hongqi Bridge Collapsed Before Opening
