The preliminary design of a cross-river bridge connecting the cities of Zhangjiagang, Jingjiang and Rugao in East China's Jiangsu province was recently approved by Jiangsu Development and Reform Commission, according to local media reports on Dec 13.

The design of the Zhangjiagang-Jingjiang-Rugao Yangtze River Bridge. [Photo/WeChat account: rugaofabu]

The Zhangjiagang-Jingjiang-Rugao Yangtze River Bridge is located about 28 kilometers downstream of the Jiangyin Yangtze River Bridge and about 16 km upstream of the Shanghai-Suzhou-Nantong Yangtze River Bridge.

The total length of the bridge will span around 29.8 km, with its main section across the Yangtze River measuring 2,300 meters. It will start from the Shanghai-Xi'an Expressway in Rugao and end at Zhangjiagang Shugang Expressway. The construction is expected to be completed in six years.

Four interchanges, one service area, one management center and one maintenance site will also be built.

The bridge is poised to set several world records, including having the largest span, largest anchorage foundation, longest main cable, and the highest steel-concrete composite cable tower.