The New Haiyan Bridge will be built over the next 15 months as an upgraded pedestrian and light-vehicle gateway to Yeli Island. The abandoned old bridge, which opened in 1995, will be demolished by the end of August.

The bridge entrance passes through Mingting Park Archway, which faces Haiyan Road across Lovers Avenue in Wanzaisha of downtown Xiangzhou. The site is near Yale Plaza and Yong Mix, which house Jusco and numerous stores and restaurants.

The proposed bridge is 280 m (918 ft) long and 14 m (50 ft) wide, and designed to withstand once-in-a-century floods, according to the Zhuhai Highway Bureau, the project overseer.

Designed as a view corridor for residents and tourists, it will have 3.5-m-wide sidewalks encompassing a 700-m-wide two-way lane for bicycles and other non-motorized vehicles. In an emergency, the middle lane will accommodate motor traffic while pedestrians and the motor-less transport would share the sidewalks. 

Rendering of New Haiyan Bridge

Integral lifting of the beam bridge, rather than blasting, will be coupled with pier column-cutting techniques to protect the marine environment, according to Zhuhai Urban Construction Real Estate Development Co.

The old Haiyan Bridge could bear only small cars. Its closure left Xinyue (New Moon) Bridge, facing Xianlie Road, as an alternative route.

Yeli Island is home to Zhuhai Opera House, leisure and recreation commercial complex Hi City, seafront eco-square, a yacht service center, tropical park, and extensive cycling-pedestrian lanes.

Old charm [Photos courtesy Zhuhai Daily]