Steel bridge deck pavement of Changzhou-Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge, a cable-stayed bridge with the world's largest span, was completed in east China's Jiangsu Province on Saturday.
Connecting Changzhou and Taizhou cities in Jiangsu, it is the first cross-river facility combining highway, intercity railway and ordinary roads over the Yangtze River, the world's third longest river.
The total pavement area of the upper and lower steel bridge decks exceeds 250,000 square meters, equivalent to 33 standard football fields.
The bridge sets world records for having the largest span among cable-stayed bridges and the largest span among dual-use road and rail steel truss arch bridge.
"The construction team adopted eight types of pavement structures and systems on different areas to enhance the durability of the pavement, driving comfort, and the stability of the highway and railway layer. This has enabled the application of domestically produced materials in the steel deck paving of super-long-span bridges," said Xia Pengfei, executive deputy commander of the Changzhou-Taizhou Yangtze River Bridge construction command department of Jiangsu Communications Engineering Construction Bureau.
After five years of construction, the bridge boasts a total length of 10.3 kilometers, including 5.3 kilometers of road and rail sections. And it is expected to open to traffic by the end of next April.
Mega cable-stayed bridge on Yangtze River completes steel bridge deck pavement
A delegation of 40 students and teachers from seven Chinese mainland universities on Thursday wrapped up their nine-day visit to Taiwan. They set off for Taiwan on Nov. 27 and visited universities, historical sites, scenic spots, as well as sports, sci-tech and cultural venues on the island, widely engaging with locals throughout the tour.
The delegation made the tour at the invitation of the Taiwan-based Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation.
"The young people from both sides of the Strait share the same root, and we are having a harmonious communication this time. We also welcome young people from Taiwan to visit the mainland for exchange," Cao Yibo, a student from Peking University, told reporters during the tour.
The delegation included table tennis Olympic champion Ma Long who studies at Beijing Sport University, and air rifle Olympic champion Yang Qian of Tsinghua University.
"In the future, I would like to visit Taiwan again. I did not expect that so many compatriots in Taiwan would come to welcome and us and pay so much attention to our exchange tour," Ma said.
Hsiao Hsu-tsen, executive director of the Ma Ying-jeou Culture and Education Foundation, saw off the delegation at the airport on Thursday, and said the mainland students and teachers had received Taiwan residents' heartfelt welcome wherever they went.
"The farewell dinner party was held yesterday evening, when almost all students from the mainland shared their feelings. What moved me so much is that every one of them thanked people here, because the latter sincerely and warmly welcomed them wherever they went during the nine-day tour. They told me that when they go back, they will tell their relatives and friends that people in Taiwan are kind, hospitable and warm. I believe that is the most important purpose of the exchange across the Strait," he said.
Calling youth exchanges a foundation of cross-Strait relations in the future, Hsiao said the foundation will carry on and continue to promote such exchanges across the Strait.
This is the second delegation of mainland teachers and students visiting Taiwan at the invitation of the Ma Ying-jeou Foundation, following the visit by a first delegation in July last year.
Delegation of mainland university students, teachers wraps up Taiwan visit
