Key Longest Bridge on Tianshui-Longnan Railway Enters Girder Erection Phase

According to Xinhua News Agency, construction work has entered a new phase of girder erection on Longnan West Super Large Bridge, the longest bridge along the entire Tianshui-Longnan Railway. The milestone was marked by the precise placement of the first precast T-beam on 12 July, laying solid groundwork for subsequent track laying and full line completion.

As one of the critical control projects of the Tianshui-Longnan Railway, the bridge adopts a combined double-track and single-track structural layout. The double-track section stretches 1,459.67 metres, while the single-track section extends 2,027.12 metres. The construction site features complex operational conditions and elevated safety risks, with the bridge spanning national highways, local rivers and municipal roads, and running adjacent to the operational Lanzhou-Chongqing Railway.

Specialised technical teams have been assembled to tackle on-site construction challenges. Innovative construction methodologies including low-clearance rotary drilling, time-shifted percussive drilling and reinforced supporting structures have been deployed to mitigate operational risks and ensure stable construction progress amid constrained working spaces and complex surrounding environments.

The Tianshui-Longnan Railway is the first regional trunk railway independently invested and constructed by Gansu Province. The newly built main line spans approximately 208 kilometres, connecting Tianshui City in northern Gansu with Longnan City in the south. Upon full completion and opening to traffic, the railway will form interconnected transport links with the Longhai Railway and Lanzhou-Chongqing Railway.

The new rail corridor will optimise Gansu’s regional transport layout, open up unobstructed southbound logistics and passenger passages for the province, and strengthen connectivity between western inland regions and southern transport networks. Continuous progress on bridge construction will accelerate the overall project timeline, bringing forward the full operational launch of the strategic regional railway line to drive coordinated regional economic development.