Construction for China's first integral hoisting operation of a mega cross-sea bridge is taking shape in east China's Zhejiang Province.
The Shuangyumen Bridge is a key part of the Liuheng Expressway Bridge's phase II project that was launched to improve transportation links to the Zhoushan Archipelago New Area, which is a state-level area focusing on the development of marine economy.
The steel frame of the Shuangyumen Bridge's integral hoisting operation needs 16 H-shaped beams and 840 rebars, weighing 150 tons. This is the equivalent of hoisting 100 passenger cars in one sitting.
When the framework is lifted up, more than 800 joints need to be docked from a 40-meter height.
"The conditions here are quite tough. The corrosion from sea wind and chloride ions has caused rusting on the steel bars. Therefore, we've thickened the protective layer," said Huang Chong, technician at the Liuheng Expressway Bridge's phase II project.
Only 24 years old, Huang's body now bears the brunt of the laborious fieldwork which has been ongoing for the last 10 months.
"As a man, it doesn't matter if my skin gets darker or rougher. What matters most is to ensure that there is good quality concrete, and a high-quality project overall," Huang said.
In recent days, rain and fog have hampered progress, with many workers taking on night shift when conditions are a little mild.
Weng Jianmin, is a gen-Z technician in the project. He has to collect construction site data by climbing up and down a long, caged ladder several times a day.
"Construction engineering can be a rough job, but it also needs utmost care and precision," said Weng.
Construction for China's mega hoisting operation of cross-sea bridge underway
China has built and upgraded nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads across Africa as part of the Belt and Road Initiative, aiming to boost industrial and infrastructure development, as well as trade on the continent.
In Uganda, the 217.9-million-U.S.-dollar Masindi-Park Junction and Tangi Junction-Paraa-Buliisa road project serves as a vital link for both commerce and conservation in the country.
Funded by the China Export-Import Bank and built by China Communications Construction Company, the project is not just a ribbon of asphalt, but a lifeline connecting communities and catalyzing growth.
The road winds through the vast Murchison Falls National Park, reducing travel time and improving the tourist experience.
And the 51-kilometer Kampala Entebbe Expressway in the country, financed and constructed by China, reduces the travel time from Kampala to Entebbe airport to 30 minutes from 120 minutes before.
In Tanzania, the Chinese-built state-of-the-art Kijazi Interchange in Dar es Salaam is the biggest project of its kind in the country.
It consists of a three-level interchange with the maximum height of 17.5 meters and service roads.
The interchange significantly reduces traffic jams in the commercial capital, making heavy traffic jams lasting for hours at the busy Ubungo junction history.
The Keffi Road project in Nigeria, contracted by the China Harbor Engineering Company, was completed in 2023.
The project comprises the construction of the Abuja-Keffi expressway and dualization of Keffi-Akwanga-Lafia-Makurdi road in central Nigeria, facilitating local economic activities along with job opportunities and road-construction expertise.
The 27.1-kilometer Nairobi Expressway, built by a Chinese firm, is providing a faster route for motorists heading to and from the central business district, the city's industrial area and the main international airport.
It is part of a broader investment in Kenya's transport infrastructure, aimed at improving road connectivity and supporting the country's economic growth.
Since its launch, the toll road has significantly cut travel time between Nairobi's southern areas, home to the main airport, and the upscale Westlands suburb, from two hours during peak times to just 20 minutes.
China builds, upgrades nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads across Africa
