Steel beam erection work on two 666-m (728-yd) auxiliary bridges on the north and south sides of Niwanmen Bridge began after the Spring Festival holiday, signifying that superstructure construction of the bridge has begun as a key node of the Zhuhai Avenue expansion project.

Expected to be operational next year, the Niwanmen Bridge expansion project will add six more lanes to the existing six-lane structure, improving transportation efficiency in west Zhuhai. The auxiliary bridges have a designed speed of 50 kmph (31 mph) for motorists, while a slow-traffic system has been configured to serve pedestrians and non-motor vehicles.

Construction site of the auxiliary bridges of Niwanmen Bridge [Photo by Li Jianshu / Zhuhai Daily]

The two bridges are steel truss arches with elegant design and can meet the traffic demands of the channel beneath the bridge, according to the constructor -- a subsidiary of Zhuhai Communication Group. The high-strength steel used in the construction has an even higher standard than those used on the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge. 

In addition, a pedestrian underpass will be built near North Hezhou Bus Stop at the east end of the bridge to facilitate pedestrians in Hezhou New Area.

The 4.5-km (2.8-mile) Zhuhai Avenue expansion project between the Zhuhai and Niwanmen bridges aims to ensure smooth traffic flow between the east and west wings of Zhuhai. 

Upon operation, Zhuhai Avenue will have 14 lanes apart from the Niwanmen Bridge, with a designed speed of 100 kmph (65 mph), while the 675-m (738-yd) Hezhou Tunnel will have a designed speed of 80 kmph (50 mph). The avenue will connect with the Zhuhai Tunnel, which is scheduled to finish construction in 2024.