At 23:56 on December 18, a 15,000-ton "steel giant" completed a precise 76-degree rotation at 15 meters above ground, marking the successful transformation of the Beicang Road cable-stayed rotating bridge—the core project of Handan's Pengjiazhai Interconnection Program. This engineering marvel, combining technological innovation with public welfare significance, has not only set regional bridge construction records but also emerged as a new urban landmark for Handan.
The bridge represents China's first single-cable-plane, low-pylon, curved-diamond-tower rotating cable-stayed bridge, achieving domestic breakthroughs in both structural design and construction techniques. Its 32-meter main tower resembles an aerial diamond, featuring a gradually converging double-limb structure from base to top. The longitudinal hexagonal solid cross-section with smooth curves ensures structural stability while showcasing modern engineering aesthetics.
"Every step was uncharted territory," said Wang Yi, the on-site project manager from China Railway Sixth Group, touching the tower's concrete surface with visible pride. To realize the design vision, the team abandoned traditional segmented construction methods, instead innovating with a "single-formwork, multi-pour" technique. Supported by dual tower cranes and heavy-lift equipment for real-time material handling, the 32-meter tower was completed in six pours—reducing construction time by 15 days while maintaining perfect curvature.
The bridge's location spanning the Beijing-Guangzhou Railway—a vital national artery handling 134 daily trains—presented extreme challenges. The team implemented multiple technological solutions to ensure "zero interference" with rail operations. Preparatory work included relocating overhead line poles and power cables, while construction was strictly scheduled during nighttime "maintenance windows" between train operations. A third-party linear monitoring system provided continuous safety oversight throughout the process.
Precision rotation control proved the most formidable challenge, requiring the 15,000-ton structure to achieve millimeter-level alignment. Project technical lead Han Tiantian's team developed a "BIM-fiber optic smart monitoring system" with eight displacement sensors transmitting real-time data. After three months of calculations and nine technicians monitoring every parameter, the bridge achieved flawless "zero-deviation" docking.
Upon completion, the bridge will eliminate Beicang Road's dead-end status, directly connecting Handan's Congtai and Fuxing districts. Travel time between these areas will be reduced from 30-minute detours to just 5 minutes, significantly improving urban traffic efficiency.