China Completes 60-Hour Continuous Pour for Giant Yangtze Bridge Caisson

Construction crews in Central China have finished a 60-hour continuous concrete pour to build the world’s largest foundation caisson for a highway suspension bridge. The engineering milestone took place at the Hannan Yangtze River Bridge project, located in Wuhan within Hubei Province.

The successful 60-hour operation involved the south anchorage caisson foundation, which is a critical structural element that will support the immense weight of the planned suspension bridge. Project managers confirmed that this uninterrupted pour successfully concluded the first heightening stage of the massive foundation structure.

According to Road & Bridge International (RBI), a subsidiary of the state-owned China Communications Construction Company (CCCC), this caisson represents the largest structure of its kind ever utilized for a highway bridge project globally.

The physical scale of the south anchorage foundation is substantial. The structure features plan dimensions measuring 76.4 meters by 76.4 meters, stands 43 meters high, and is internally divided into 36 separate compartments or cells.

Engineers opted for the 36-cell internal configuration to maintain strict geometric control during installation, facilitate the eventual sinking process, and manage the distinct construction phases.

Executing a continuous 60-hour pour required meticulous planning and logistical coordination. Teams had to maintain a strict, pre-planned rhythm to control internal concrete temperature variations, reduce the risk of structural defects between layers, and guarantee overall structural stability.

The operation demanded a constant, uninterrupted supply of concrete mix, regular crew rotations, and intensive technical monitoring throughout the entire execution window.

Engineers embedded sensors and digital instruments directly into the structure. These real-time control systems allowed the construction team to monitor worker safety, structural stability, and concrete performance variables simultaneously.

Once fully built, the Hannan Yangtze River Bridge will feature a main span of 1,600 meters. The design utilizes a dual-tower, single-span steel box girder layout, carrying eight traffic lanes capable of accommodating speeds up to 120 kilometers per hour.

The megaproject is funded by the Wuhan Urban Development Group (WUDG). It will serve as an integral component of the expanding Wuhan Metropolitan Area Ring Expressway network.

Upon its final completion, the infrastructure project will become the 13th bridge crossing over the Yangtze River within the city limits of Wuhan.