The traffic along the XiangJiang River in Zhuzhou City mainly depends on the current Shifeng Bridge. The Hunan Yun Rd Bridge project, 3.6 km away, is unlikely to see the light of day. As a result, the Liyu Bridge will link the old and new cities as well as the two industrial zones on each side of the river. On a larger scale, this bridge will also facilitate traffic between Changsha and Xiangtan, the two neighboring cities.
NG-Lab, with the technical support of the Hunan Provincial Communications Planning Survey and Design Institute Co., Ltd. present three conceptual schemes for this bridge.
Concept 1: The door of harmony 聚力之门
This concept merges the steel towers into the deck structure. The largest intermediate span is 470 meters, the one at the two ends of the main deck are respectively 170m and 110m. The concrete side bridges are made of 3m-high beams placed every 50 m.
Each pair of towers, respectively 165 meters and 130 meters high, is connected at the top to counterbalance the tension forces due to the suspension cables. The total width of the bridge is 37 meters. The low tower is located on the north side of the river to give way to the seaway. The main span of 470 meters wide meets with the needs of fluvial traffic.
The main tower brings strength and vitality to the project, thus announcing the urban development moving towards a new era. The design of the lighting highlights the structure, emphasizing the vertical shape of the main tower and the side surface of the bridge, thus recalling the fuselage of an aircraft.
Concept 2: The white egret of the Qing Mountains 青山白鹭
In terms of ecology, the design of the towers of this suspension bridge recalls the elegant style of migratory birds, a tower as thin as egrets paws. The choice of a suspension bridge technique is inspired by the mountains of Jiulangshan, Wu Yunfeng and Fahua, mountains that seem to never end.
Concept 3: The Clear rain from the bows 清雨之弦
The whole concept of this bridge is based on the stringed instruments recalled by the series of vertical cables. Their pronunciation, “xian” in Chinese, also sounds like the english translation of “string” of a bow. Two arches on each side of the river, like two gates on each bank, symbolize a pair of bent bows that connect the two industrial areas and point to a new beginning, an imminent development from both sides of the Xiangjiang River.
Concept 4: The Qiming’s sail 启明之帆
This suspension bridge is as imposing as a port lighthouse emerging from the surface of the water. Its cables are reminiscent of sailboats ropes that sail every day on Tong Tang Bay. The construction of this bridge would be the first to promote the development and transformation of the region.
