How could this new bridge collapse just months after it was inaugurated?
On November 11, a large section of the Hongqi Bridge, 758 meters long and built to connect Sichuan to Tibet, collapsed under circumstances that are still unclear. Although the collapse did not result in any fatalities, authorities announced the opening of an investigation to try to understand the circumstances of the collapse.
Several days before the collapse, cracks were visible indicating the risk of landslides. But for Philippe Guéguen, research director at the Institute of Earth Sciences in Grenoble (Isère), the origins of the collapse can be found in the design of the bridge, and not just in the condition of the ground.
“What we’re seeing are foundation issues, system stability issues, battery parts that won’t hold up. So design problems in the foundation system appear to be the cause of the collapse. »
Massive construction
This collapse occurred in the context of China’s massive construction of highways and bridges, aimed at opening up its territory and stimulating economic growth.
In September, the country inaugurated what it calls “the world’s highest bridge,” the Hwa-Djiang Grand Canyon Bridge, a 625-meter-high arch. A bridge that will cost a total of 320 million euros to work on over 2 and a half years.
