Lixinsha Bridge navigation fully restored in Guangzhou

Standard navigation for vessels passing through the Lixinsha Bridge waterway was restored on Tuesday after the emergency repair and anti-collision reinforcement project was completed in Guangzhou's Nansha district, Guangdong province.

According to a statement released by the Guangzhou Maritime Safety Administration on Tuesday, the administration has made every effort to ensure the repair, reconstruction and reinforcement of the bridge piers to restore the navigation along the busy waterway.

The administration carried out a comprehensive safety inspection on the construction ships and implemented temporary traffic controls during the construction period, the statement said.

Meanwhile, the administration arranged guard ships on 24-hour emergency duty in the upstream and downstream waters and used electronic cruise control systems daily to ensure the construction project was completed on schedule.

The statement said the administration would also closely monitor the dynamics of the water area to ensure a stable and smooth navigation order.

Vessels operating in the water area are required to strengthen lookout and operate following the guidance of navigation aids and warning signs when passing the bridge, said the statement.

Overtaking, parallel navigation, U-turns and related acts that affect navigation safety are strictly prohibited, it added.

The administration introduced temporary traffic controls in the waterway after the 787-meter Lixinsha Bridge, which spans the Pearl River's Hongliqi waterway, was hit by a barge, causing a central section to collapse. The bridge has been closed for repairs since Feb 22.

Relevant departments conducted repair work and reinforcement projects after the accident, and traffic across the bridge resumed on June 22.