China builds world's highest tunnel bridge

31 March, 2012

China has given shape to an engineering marvel. Within a period of just 5-years they have been able to construct a 4000-feet long suspension bridge to connect two tunnels on either side of a 1102-feet high canyon. Would that be possible in India as well?

THE ANSWER would be an emphatic NO. The Bandra-Worli sea link took 10 whole years to complete –work on it began in 2000 and it was completed in 2010.

Trust China to set yet another record. It already has a record for the Great Wall of China, it can now boast of the highest and longest suspension bridge in the world – at night, it is illuminated by 1888 lights.

This Aizhai Extra Large Suspension Bridge, built to ease flow of traffic in the Jishou region of Hunan province, crosses over the Dehang Canyon at 1102-feet and is nearly 4000-feet long – it is a tunnel-to-tunnel bridge.

Work on this engineering marvel had started in October-2007 and it has now been officially declared open to traffic. Vehicles can drive on this bridge at a speed of 50 mph on the two-way, four-lane motorway.

However, motorists with a fear of heights have been advised not to take the steering wheel while undertaking this journey – let a driver drive, you just relax and enjoy the scenery.

A question that would always arise is – if China can, why India can’t? Obviously, with so much greasing of palms involved, it is a wonder if anything ever gets done. The worst part is that with every change in political leadership, new palms come to the forefront and those also have to be greased.

Greasing is the name of the game.