Workders have begun fixing the collapsed Jiujiang Bridge in
Guangdong Province and expect it to reopen by the end of next year,
Xinhua news agency reported today.
A 200-meter stayed-cable bridge will link the bridge, an
official in charge of the repair team said.
On June 15, a sand boat hit a pier on the bridge, which connects
Jiujiang Township in Foshan to Heshan City, causing 200 meters of
the 1,600-meter-long bridge to collapse. Four vehicles and nine
people fell into the river. Eight bodies have been recovered.
The team has begun salvaging the boat, dismantling the broken
parts and rebuilding piles. The workers are expected to salvage the
boat by the end of this year, the official said.
The official said it's more difficult to fix a bridge than build
a new one. More than 10,000 tons of debris under the river will
affect the repairs, the official said in the report.
The official said the repaired bridge will be stronger and more
solid in case of future collisions.
(Shanghai Daily November 23, 2007)