Huayudong Bridge on the Guiyang Section of National Highway G320

Project Overview:

The original Huayu Dong Bridge, built in the last century, is located on the Guiyang section of National Highway G320, which runs from Shanghai to Kunming. The bridge spans the Hongfeng Lake National Wetland Park and a drinking-water source protection zone serving a population of over one million. It is a prestressed concrete truss-composite arch bridge with a main span of 150 meters. To enhance the highway’s service level and the bridge’s traffic capacity, a reinforcement/demolition decision-making model based on rough set theory was employed to evaluate various bridge renovation options. Based on the evaluation results, it was decided to demolish and rebuild the bridge in situ. The newly constructed bridge is a mid-support steel tube concrete basket-handle arch bridge with a main span of 180 meters, an overall length of 269.6 meters, and a total project cost of 110 million RMB. Construction of the project commenced on February 20, 2019, and the bridge was completed and opened to traffic on June 29, 2021. This project was the first to propose a reconstruction approach of “building a new arch on the old bridge and then demolishing the old bridge after the new arch is completed,” thus pioneering a new ecological approach to bridge construction and introducing innovative green construction technologies. The project achieved its reconstruction goals of “zero water pollution, zero disturbance to the scenic area, reuse of waste materials, and creation of a new landmark landscape.” It received the Huangguoshu Cup Award for High-Quality Engineering Projects from Guizhou Province and successfully passed the completion acceptance inspection on March 8, 2024.

Project Highlights:

The demolition of the old bridge and the construction of the new bridge are subject to numerous stringent environmental and operational constraints: The bridge spans the Hongfeng Lake National Wetland Park and a drinking-water source protection zone serving a population of over one million. Construction wastewater is strictly prohibited from being discharged into the site, and the disposal of solid waste into water bodies is also strictly forbidden. Environmental requirements related to air quality, noise levels, vegetation conservation, and soil and water conservation are particularly rigorous. Moreover, the demolition of the old bridge cannot rely on scaffolding or blasting methods. During the inverted dismantling process of the old bridge, the structural system transformation and the sequential removal of structural members will pose significant risks to both structural safety and construction safety. Furthermore, the bridge site is located within the Hongfeng Lake National Wetland Park and a national AAAA-level scenic area, boasting picturesque landscapes and high aesthetic standards. Given the sensitivity of the site environment, the project conducted research into a comprehensive set of technologies for in-situ demolition and reconstruction of arch bridges, achieving the following technical breakthroughs:

For the first time, a reconstruction plan was proposed—“build a new arch over the old bridge, then dismantle the old bridge”—paving the way for a new, eco-friendly approach to bridge construction. This initiative has set a benchmark case for the renovation of dilapidated and outdated bridges, achieving the reconstruction goals of “zero water pollution, zero disturbance to scenic areas, reuse of waste materials, and creation of a new landmark landscape.”
A new green bridge-construction technology for mountain arch bridges has been developed. A novel system-transformation method for dismantling arch bridges has been proposed, along with the development of matching equipment, thereby addressing the technical challenge of high safety risks associated with system transformation during arch-bridge demolition. Specifically, the procedure involves first installing a system-transformation device at the arch crown, temporarily locking both sides of the arch crown and pre-applying an axial jacking force to the crown. Next, the arch crown is cut until it is completely severed. Finally, the axial jacking force on the arch crown is gradually released in stages, gently dissipating the impact loads and deformations generated during the structural system transformation. This step-by-step approach ensures the safe completion of the structural system transformation while safeguarding both the structural integrity and the safety of construction personnel.
A comprehensive index system for decision-making on the demolition and reinforcement of concrete arch bridges has been established. A decision model for the demolition and reinforcement of concrete arch bridges based on rough set theory has been proposed, offering a new approach to decision-making in engineering construction planning.

Honored Achievements:

International Bridge Conference (IBC) Gustav Lindenthal Medal;
Guizhou Province “Huangguoshu Cup” Award for High-Quality Projects;
First Prize, China Highway Society Bridge Engineering Innovation Award;
Special Grand Prize of the Guizhou Provincial Highway Society Science and Technology Award;
First Prize, Guizhou Province Science and Technology Innovation Award for Civil and Architectural Engineering;
Held 12 patents, published 9 papers, and developed 6 provincial- and ministerial-level construction methods.

Project Showcase: