WUHAN: The Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, originally built to last 100 years, should now survive for more than a century and a half, maintenance workers recently claimed confidently.
The bridge celebrated its 65th anniversary in October but is still young and could safely be used for many more years, according to Huang Wei, a workshop director with the bridge’s administration.
The main structure and associated adjuncts remain intact after six decades of traffic, Huang said, adding that this was the result of generations of maintenance workers protecting and caring for the bridge, which was the first to span the Yangtze.
Huang Zhiguo, a young maintenance worker, patrols the bridge every day. He removes rust, polishes and paints the structure and replaces screws. “It needs to be carefully taken care of to remain safe to use,” he said.
Particularly talented at painting steel beams, Huang is a self-taught maintenance expert.
He likes to study technology and has developed seven bridge-related machines and tools, improving operation efficiency and reducing the need for labor.
Nie Yalin, another maintenance worker, said the extension of the bridge’s life will require not only sophisticated maintenance, but also a spirit of excellence and responsibility.
“The bridge is 1,670 meters in length. Its construction involved over a million rivets, 224 large pipe columns and 126,300 cubic meters of reinforced concrete,” the 52-year-old said, adding that the figures are etched into his memory.
He has worked on the bridge for over 30 years.
–The Daily Mail-China Daily news exchange item
