Road to the Huajiang Gorge Bridge: Why China is blowing up a mountain and not digging a tunnel

In Guizhou Province, the Huajiang Gorge Bridge is a superlative structure being built: 625 meters high, almost three kilometers long, and technically state-of-the-art. But it's not just the bridge itself that's particularly spectacular, but also the route to it – instead of drilling beneath the mountain, China's engineers decided to partially blast the mountain and create an open-cut route. A look at the technical, geological, and logistical background.

With its planned height of 625 meters, the Huajiang Gorge Bridge will be the world's tallest bridge—around 60 meters higher than the previous record holder, the Beipanjiang Bridge. The massive structure spans a deep gorge and connects two high plateaus. While comparable projects often use tunnels to create access roads, the construction managers opted for a different strategy here: blasting instead of tunneling.

The bridge measures 2,890 meters in total length and has a main span of 1,420 meters – comparable to the Golden Gate Bridge. The open road access was created by removing part of the mountain ridge. This not only saves construction time but also significantly reduces costs. Tunnel construction can take years and requires complex ventilation and safety systems – all of which are eliminated with an open-plan route.

The area consists predominantly of limestone, which is easy to blast and at the same time provides stable rock walls for road construction.

• Construction time : Blasting and clearing are completed in weeks, tunnel construction takes years.
• Logistics : Large equipment and components can be delivered without narrow tunnel access.
• Maintenance : Open routes are easier to inspect and maintain.
• Safety : No fire or ventilation problems like in tunnels.

The bridge is part of the new highway between Liupanshui and Anshun. For the local population, it drastically reduces travel time across the gorge—from over an hour to just a few minutes. Furthermore, the open access creates space for potential viewing points and tourist stops that would not be possible in a tunnel.

The exposed section of road is as wide as a football field and leads directly to the bridge structure. For civil engineers, this is a prime example of geotechnically sound and economically efficient planning—for travelers, it's a spectacular sight that underscores China's technological ambition.