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)