Contract Section 1 of the Pingtang to Luodian Segment of the Yuqing to Anlong Expressway in Guizhou Province

Project Overview:

The No. 1 Contract Section of the Yuqing to Anlong Expressway in Guizhou Province, from Pingtang to Luodian, was completed and opened to traffic in December 2019. The section has a total length of 43.773 kilometers, with a total estimated investment of approximately 6.042 billion yuan. This project has been designated by the Ministry of Transport as Guizhou Province’s sole demonstration project for the integrated development of transportation and tourism—a model project for high-quality engineering in Guizhou Province. The highway traverses the southern part of Guizhou, an area characterized by the most developed karst landforms in China. Along its route, karst features are abundant, canyons are deeply incised, and topographic and geological conditions are highly complex. The road connects to the Chinese Sky Eye and spans the Pingtang Bridge canyon. The design had to address numerous challenging issues. The completion of this project provides an outstanding example of integrated canyon road design in karst mountain regions, seamlessly combining topographical and geological considerations, large-scale structural elements, service functions, tourism amenities, and low-carbon sustainability.

Project Highlights:

Route Scheme Selection for Canyon Bridges Based on Green and Low-Carbon Principles

The canyon section of the Pingtang Bridge features a relative elevation difference of over 580 meters, traverses the Pingshi River Fault Zone, and passes through coal seams as well as mined-out areas. This section represents the most challenging terrain along the entire route, with the densest concentration of engineering works and the most complex design requirements. From a green, low-carbon, and full-lifecycle perspective, innovative approaches were adopted, taking into account factors such as road alignment indicators, continuous long-grade slopes, feasibility of bridge construction, geological conditions at the bridge site, trade-offs between bridge and tunnel options, and post-completion operation and management considerations. As a result, seven promising route alternatives were selected for detailed comparison. Ultimately, leveraging the natural hilltops within the U-shaped canyon and making full use of the unique topographical features, a three-tower cable-stayed bridge design was chosen. This solution delivers significant economic benefits and outstanding aesthetic appeal.

Canyon Landscape Integration Design for the Sky Bridge Service Area

The Sky Bridge Service Area is Guizhou Province’s first tourism-oriented and smart service area, designed around the theme of offering close-up views of the Pingtang Bridge canyon landscape. It serves as a crucial component for integrating and realizing the full potential of the Pingtang canyon scenery. In terms of functional design, it leverages the unique geographical advantages along the route corridor—including the Chinese Sky Eye, the Pingtang Bridge, and the Pingshi River tourism attractions—to introduce innovative features.

The service area features a bridge museum, an astronomy education center, an astronomical observatory, a hotel, and a direct-sales store dedicated to rural revitalization. With its uniquely creative interstellar and temporal-themed design concept and a diverse array of cultural and tourism offerings, the area integrates leisure, entertainment, and science education into one multifunctional destination. It has become a popular “internet-famous check-in spot” attracting countless visitors, served as a filming location for the production team of “My Home Village,” and has been rated as a national 3A-level tourist attraction.

Design of the Pingtang Bridge, a key node on the canyon route.

The key to determining whether the overall plan for the Pingtang Bridge over the canyon is viable lies in the feasibility of the 332-meter-high reinforced concrete bridge tower. In the bridge design, not only were the technical challenges posed by such an ultra-high tower successfully addressed, but also a series of social and environmental issues—such as Miao ethnic folk culture and canyon landscapes—were integrated and innovatively resolved.

Upon completion, the bridge achieved a grand slam—winning China’s Luban Award as well as all three major international awards—and was named one of the “Top Ten Most Beautiful Bridges” in the nation’s inaugural selection. This accomplishment is an exceptionally rare feat in the history of Chinese bridges.

Honored Achievements:

First Prize for Outstanding Design in China’s Highway Transportation
Guizhou Province’s “Huangguoshu Cup” High-Quality Project
We have been granted 18 patents, including 8 invention patents and 10 utility model patents. We have developed a total of 4 construction methods and obtained 3 software copyrights. We have published 62 papers, among which 4 are indexed in SCI, 10 in EI, 4 in CSCD, 35 in core journals, and 9 in general journals.

Project Showcase: