In the heart of Chongqing, China, a suspension bridge has captured global attention for its daring design and seemingly precarious structure.
This temporary bridge, which spans the Dadong River Gorge for 240 meters, has earned the title of “world’s scariest suspension bridge.” To make this engineering marvel even more terrifying, it doesn’t have any conventional support structures like bases or towers. Rather, it just uses four steel cables to hold cars weighing up to 45 tons.
The bridge’s track is just wide enough for one vehicle to pass at a time, even though it is 12 meters wide. Despite the safety nets on both sides of the bridge, a single mistake could have disastrous consequences. Even in calm weather, this bridge can be very difficult to navigate, and in strong winds, it may even become even more unstable.
But this terrifying layout has a useful function. The purpose of this temporary installation is to help with the construction of the Shuangbao Bridge, a considerably bigger and more incredible job at hand. When finished, Shuangbao Bridge—which spans the Dadonghe and Xiaohegou Rivers—will be the biggest double-arch bridge in the world. To accomplish this, laborers had to build a temporary suspension bridge to get access to a small mountain that would support the central arch abutments.
The bridge has withstood the horizontal tension produced by its four steel cables rather well, despite its frightening appearance. It is still regarded as one of the scariest bridges in the world because, unlike conventional suspension bridges, it lacks slanted cables or towers for additional support, making it less stable.
From complicated overpasses that defy engineering conventions to suspended “river highways,” China is internationally recognized for its innovative infrastructure. Another example of the nation’s bold approach to building and design is the temporary suspension bridge.
