Hongqi Bridge
Hongqi Bridge 红旗大桥 | |
|---|---|
| Coordinates | 31°49′14″N 101°54′31″E / 31.82053°N 101.908584°E |
| Carried | China National Highway 317 |
| Locale | Maerkang county-level city, Aba Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture, Sichuan, China |
| Official name | Hongqi Grand Bridge |
| Characteristics | |
| Total length | 758 metres (2,487 ft) |
| Height | 172 metres (564 ft)[1] |
| Longest span | 220 metres (720 ft)[1] |
| No. of spans | 3 (central section) |
| History | |
| Construction end | 14 January 2025 |
| Construction cost | 300 million RMB[2] |
| Opened | 13 April 2025 |
| Collapsed | 11 November 2025 (western approach) |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 2 lanes motorway |
| Location | |
Interactive map of Hongqi Bridge | |
Hongqi Bridge was a 172-metre (564 ft) tall elevated structure across a steep canyon in Barkam in the Ngawa Tibetan and Qiang Autonomous Prefecture of Sichuan Province, China, spanning the Zumuzu River, eastern tributary of the Dadu River.[3] It was an important waypoint located within Sichuan connecting the rest of China to the Tibet Autonomous Region. The bridge was also part of China National Highway 317[4] of the Chinese highway network and travels near the Shuangjiangkou Dam.[5][6]
Chengdu Engineering Corporation, a subsidiary of China Power Construction Corporation under the Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, handled the bridge's design and construction. The Sichuan Expressway Construction and Development Group posted a now-deleted video of the final concrete pouring on 14 January 2025, signifying the project's completion after five years of construction.[2][7] The bridge was opened to traffic on 13 April 2025.[5][8] On 11 November 2025, just days after the inauguration of the nearby Shuangjiangkou Dam,[9] the western bridge approach and its part of the roadbed collapsed, after a landslide.[10][11]
Characteristics
Hongqi Bridge is a cantilevered concrete bridge with a total length of 758 metres (2,487 ft). The central section consists of a main span of 220 metres (720 ft) flanked by two spans of 120 metres (390 ft) each, supported by piers as tall as 172 metres (564 ft) above the foundation.[1] The bridge deck is a continuous rigid frame structure made of prestressed concrete, consisting of the three central spans connected as a single unit.[8] The bridge carries a two-lane road, which exits a tunnel on the steep east (left) bank, crossing the bridge and its approaches, and enters a tunnel on the steep west (right) bank.[11]
Collapse
The bridge was evacuated and closed to traffic on 10 November 2025 by Maerkang city officials when road cracks and shifting terrain, along with a crack in the bridge structure were discovered by inspection officials at 3pm.[3][5][12] Conditions worsened throughout 11 November before the bridge partially collapsed at 4:10pm.[5][8] The authorities have stated that a landslide next to the bridge had caused the collapse and denied any quality issues. Footage of the collapse was posted on social media.[2][12] No casualties were reported.[7]
Several netizens on the Chinese internet have questioned the official claim that the collapse was precipitated by the landslide, noting that the area was known for landslides, though the majority of comments praised the government's handling of the situation and evacuation.[2] State media Jimu News broadcast a bridge expert stating that if the project had been given the go-ahead despite the unstable terrain, slope management should have been factored into its design.[2]
Satellite imagery after the collapse showed the western approach in rubble, while the main central section of the bridge appeared intact with the western end of the central section in mid-air, unattached and unsupported.[13]
See also
References
- ^ a b c Sakowski, Eric. "Hongqi Bridge" (Wiki). HighestBridges.com. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ^ a b c d e Lim, Min Zhang (12 November 2025). "'Mountain's problem' or design flaw? Dramatic collapse of new bridge in China raises questions". The Straits Times.
- ^ a b "中國四川紅旗特大橋垮塌 1月才合龍建成 | 兩岸" [Hongqi Bridge in Sichuan, China collapses, completed only in January]. 中央社 CNA (in Chinese). 12 November 2025.
- ^ "【视频】年初才开通 四川马尔康市红旗桥垮塌" [[Video] Hongqi Bridge in Maerkang, Sichuan collapses only months after opening]. www.zaobao.com.sg (in Simplified Chinese).
- ^ a b c d "New bridge partially collapses in China's Sichuan province". CNA. 12 November 2025.
- ^ Hawkins, Amy (12 November 2025). "New bridge in south-west China collapses into mountainside". The Guardian.
- ^ a b Yoon, Julie; Li, Lyric (12 November 2025). "Video shows part of newly built bridge in China collapsing in seconds". The Washington Post.
- ^ a b c 唐, 驳虎 (12 November 2025). "唐驳虎：阿坝大桥垮塌前发出预警，是奇迹更是工程警钟" [Issuing an early warning before the collapse of the Aba Bridge is a miracle and a warning for engineering projects]. news.ifeng.com (in Chinese).
- ^ "Hongqi Bridge collapse in eastern Tibet triggered by nearby hydroelectric power dam?". Tibetan News. 13 November 2025. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ^ Tobin, Meaghan; Wu, Xinyun (12 November 2025). "Video Shows the Moment Part of a New Bridge in China Fell". The New York Times. Retrieved 15 November 2025.
- ^ a b Petley, Dave (14 November 2025). "The 11 November 2025 landslide at Hongqi Bridge in China". eos.org. Retrieved 17 November 2025.
- ^ a b "Section of new bridge collapses in China's Sichuan province". South China Morning Post. 12 November 2025.
- ^ Petley, Dave (17 November 2025). "Satellite imagery of the 11 November 2025 landslide at Hongqi Bridge in China". eos.org. Retrieved 17 November 2025.