Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge Opens as Highest by Clearance

China opened the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge on Sunday, officials said, a suspension span in Guizhou Province that rises about 625 meters, or roughly 2,050 feet, above the Beipan River and is being described by project authorities as the world's highest bridge by clearance. The structure, which links two cliffs across the Huajiang Canyon, began carrying traffic this week and is expected to cut a previously two-hour drive through winding mountain roads to a matter of minutes.

The bridge stretches nearly 3,000 meters in total length, with a main span of about 1,420 meters, placing it among the longest suspension spans constructed in a mountainous region. It is supported by seven concrete towers and has a reported mass of roughly 22,000 metric tons. Project engineers say construction took about four years, with completion reached in August 2023 after an intensive building and testing program.

Officials and engineers involved with the project have emphasized both practical and economic goals. The crossing is part of the Liuzhi-Anlong Expressway, a strategic route intended to improve connectivity in southwestern China, lower transportation costs for goods and commuters, and...