Wuhan’s Baishazhou Yangtze Bridge was closed on 6 July for a new round of renovation work that is due to be completed by 30 September. The bridge, which has a daily traffic volume of 70,000 vehicles, is a vital part of the city’s transport network that connects the different parts of the city across the Yangtze River and its largest tributary, the Hanjiang. Only two days’ notice was given to the general public prior to work commencing.

Diverted traffic has caused severe delays in the surrounding area, particularly at the ferry dock. Reports say that daily traffic on the ferry has jumped by nearly 60 per cent to 41,000 vehicles both ways. According to the local Yangtze Daily newspaper, the city’s mayor Ruan Chenfa has ordered the transport authorities to make sure that this new round of renovation will make the bridge maintenance-free ‘for at least six years’.

Built in 2000, the orthotropic bridge lined with tar has required annual maintenance, causing a major headache for the city authorities. An orthotropic bridge is one whose deck comprises a stiffened structural steel deck plate that allows it to bear auto traffic. During the current work, the bridge will have a new epoxy asphalt paving. The new material has already been used on the Nanjing No.3 Yangtze Bridge and elsewhere in the world, and experts believe it could last 6-8 years without requiring any maintenance.

However there are two pre-requisites, according to Mr Zhu Xuchu, the architect who designed the bridge in the first place. First, overloading severely damages the road surface and should be banned completely. Second, the project itself needs to ensure that no vibration and no water, not even sweat from the construction workers, is allowed during the paving process so as to allow the material to glue to the steel.

Reports say that the city is preparing to install a weighing system at both ends of the bridge in its efforts to crack down on overloading.