The ambitious Xiamen-Kinmen Bridge project achieved a critical breakthrough this week as workers successfully installed its first massive steel box girder in Fujian Province. The 142.5-meter structural component – wider than eight highway lanes and weighing nearly 4,600 tonnes – marks a pivotal step in connecting the Chinese mainland with the Taiwan region.
Engineers employed cutting-edge intelligent monitoring systems during the precision six-hour lifting operation, ensuring millimeter-level accuracy in placement. This technological approach reflects China's advanced infrastructure capabilities while addressing the unique challenges of building across the Taiwan Strait.
Upon completion, the bridge will dramatically reduce travel time between Xiamen and Kinmen to 30 minutes, facilitating smoother movement of essential resources including water and electricity. Analysts predict the project will stimulate regional economic integration, with cross-strait trade volumes projected to increase by 18% within three years of operation.
The development comes as part of broader efforts to strengthen people-to-people connections across the strait. Recent surveys show 76% of Kinmen residents support enhanced infrastructure links with the mainland, particularly for healthcare access and agricultural trade.
