New Guizhou projects bridge valleys, changing lives

"The design will help reduce the weight of the bridge. Compared with other concrete arch bridges, it will also greatly save on the amount of concrete used," he said.

As the bridge is located in the Wumengshan National Geological Park, designers tried hard to reduce its impact on the environment.

"During construction, we are following a terraced shape with the aim of reducing the amount of excavation needed," Liu said.

Usually, the temporary anchorages on both sides of a bridge are dismantled after completion. In this case, instead of dismantling the anchorages, engineers have envisaged their long-term use, he said.

Other advanced concepts of green construction are also being applied to the project.

A worker's dream come true

The bridges will link the mountainous province to the rest of the country, fulfilling the dream of generations of construction workers to make Guizhou easier to reach by road.

Shen Xiuqiao, a Guizhou native, is a construction worker on the Zangke River Bridge. His father, who also worked on roads and bridges, named his son Xiuqiao because it means "building bridges" in Chinese.

"I've been building roads and bridges for over 20 years. I'm very excited to see more and more bridges being built here," he said, adding that he is also proud of his father and grandfather, both of whom also built roads and bridges and tried to make Guizhou a better and more easily accessible place.