Wuhan Waterway Bureau announced on 14 October that vessels sailing downstream now need to pass under the No.7 arch of the Wuhan Yangtze Bridge rather than the No.6 arch so as to make way for engineering work on the city’s No.4 metro line.

The 16.85km-long metro project will cross the river via an underwater tunnel 1,600 metres from the bridge. A total of 72 sites are needed in the river for collecting data on the engineering work. So far, 67 sites have been established; the remaining five are located near the No.6 arch of the bridge.

By making this change, officials want to ensure smooth shipping conditions are maintained during the construction period. As a result of the readjustment, six new buoys have been installed and seven re-located.