New high-speed rail bridges central, western China for coordinated development

Mao Lei, chief designer of the project, described the route as a railway running through a "natural geological museum" as the proportion of bridges and tunnels along the line exceeds 90 percent.

The newly built Yunyang Hanjiang River Rail Bridge in Shiyan spans the Danjiangkou Reservoir, which supplies a large proportion of Beijing's drinking water via China's South-to-North Water Diversion Project.

To minimize environmental impact, foundation work on the bridge was carried out during the dry season, and slurry for piling operations was stored on vessels to prevent any discharge into the river. Additionally, dust-control systems were installed at concrete mixing stations to help reduce pollution.

Xiong Kai'e, a resident living along the Hanjiang River, watched the bridge rise outside her home over four years of construction.

"They've been building it for years, but the river has stayed clean, and the fish haven't disappeared," she said. Encouraged by the growing traffic, she recently opened a farmhouse restaurant near the bridge, hoping the railway will bring a fresh wave of visitors.