Hong Kong Institution of Highways and Transportation

To deepen understanding of major infrastructure projects in Mainland China and promote technical exchange and cooperation within the Greater Bay Area's engineering sector, AECOM and the Hong Kong Institution of Highways and Transportation (HKIHT) jointly organized a site visit to the construction site of the Shiziyang Bridge in Nansha District, Guangdong Province, on May 10, 2025. The bridge is acclaimed as the world’s tallest double-deck suspension bridge.

The visit was made possible through the strong support and warm hospitality of the Guangdong Highway Society, Guangdong Bay Area Transportation Construction Investment Company（廣東灣區交通建設投資有限公司）, CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Company (Contract Section T8), and CCCC Second Highway Engineering Company (Contract Section T7). The delegation comprised 45 engineers from various business lines of AECOM and members of HKIHT, covering a wide range of technical disciplines including roads, bridges, geotechnical engineering, and traffic management.

The visit began with a tour of the Smart Construction Center Exhibition Hall for the T8 contract section of CCCC Second Harbor Engineering. The delegation learned about the project's applications in smart site management, digital monitoring, construction scheduling, and safety monitoring. Through digital platforms and model demonstrations, participants gained firsthand insight into how smart construction enhances the quality and efficiency of large-scale projects.

The delegation then proceeded to the main bridge construction area to observe the installation of steel shell segments for the main tower and the anchorage works. Project engineers introduced the construction process for the ultra-tall main tower, the application of C80 high-performance concrete, and construction strategies for operating large equipment under extreme conditions. These presentations showcased the Chinese engineering teams’ organizational and technical capabilities in overcoming complex geological and construction challenges.

As the core control project of the Shiziyang Passageway, the Shiziyang Bridge features a main span of 2,180 meters and adopts a single-span, double-deck steel truss suspension bridge design. Upon completion, it will set five world records in key bridge parameters:

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• Main tower height: 342 meters, making it the tallest main tower of any double-deck suspension bridge in the world;

• Dual 16-lane design: The upper deck is a highway, and the lower deck serves as an urban arterial road;

• Main cable diameter: 1.5 meters, the largest among double-deck suspension bridges globally;

• Anchorages: Each side exceeds 130 meters in diameter, with a total concrete volume of 550,000 cubic meters and an estimated weight of 1.4 million tons – the largest bridge anchorages in the world;

• Back anchor beam installation: Scheduled for late May 2025, this key structural component connects the main cable and anchorage, and its installation precision and durability are critical to the bridge’s overall performance.

In the subsequent discussion session, representatives from the construction teams provided an in-depth overview of the Shiziyang Passageway’s background, route planning, design evolution, and technical innovations. Topics included feasibility comparisons between bridge and tunnel schemes, the decision-making process for the main span design, and how the project ensures safety and constructability under complex navigational and geological conditions.

The team highlighted the use of a steel-concrete composite structure for the main tower and breakthroughs in developing and applying C80 high-performance concrete. Additionally, the project has adopted smart construction technologies during the construction phase, such as intelligent beam yards, digital steel bridge production lines, automated hoisting, and monitoring systems, marking a transformative step toward smart bridge construction.

Through professional presentations and interactive exchanges, the delegation gained a clear understanding of the Shiziyang Bridge’s design logic and construction management model. They also expressed strong interest and recognition of Mainland China’s advancements in standardization, materials innovation, and smart construction in large-scale bridge projects.

This site visit provided the Hong Kong engineering community with a valuable learning opportunity to gain deep insights into design concepts, construction techniques, and smart construction applications in mega bridge projects in Mainland China. Delegates highly praised the project’s technical sophistication, organizational capacity, and innovative practices, and expressed strong confidence in future collaborations between Hong Kong and Mainland China in aligning engineering standards, professional exchanges, and talent development.

The event not only strengthened the connection and interaction between engineers from both regions but also offered strong support for the integrated infrastructure development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.