China Expressways, Highways: News & Discussions

[TaiShang]

Key component of world's longest cross-sea bridge installed
Xinhua, May 3, 2017

The 55-kilometer bridge connecting Zhuhai in Guangdong province with Hong Kong and Macao is under construction on April 29, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]


Chinese engineers installed a 6,000-ton key structure of the world's longest cross-sea bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao.

The wedge, 12-meter-long and weighing more than 25 Airbus A380 jets, was lowered to connect the immersed tubes of the underground tunnel of the bridge, said Lin Ming, chief engineer of the island and tunnel section of the bridge.

The 55-kilometer bridge connects Zhuhai in Guangdong Province with Hong Kong and Macao. It includes a 22.9-km bridge and 6.7-km underground tunnel.

Before the wedge was installed on Tuesday, 33 immersed tubes, each 180 meters long and weighing 80,000 tons, had been installed.

"There is only one wedge for a tunnel, and we cannot afford to fail in its installation. It took two years to prepare for today," said Chen Yue, director of the engineers' office of the bridge's island and tunnel section. The installation procedure took about six hours.

"The margin of error for the wedge is 1.5 centimeters. We have to measure precisely the influence of wind, current and buoyancy force," said Lin.

"It is like putting a needle through a hole -- a truly unprecedented event in the history of transportation," Lin said.

A gigantic crane, which was transformed from a tanker, was used to hoist the wedge, lowering it to the desired destination between the underwater tubes.

The wedge will be welded and finished by June, Lin said.

By the end of the year, the bridge will be open to traffic, said Zhu Yongling, director of the bridge management bureau.

Construction began in December of 2009 at Zhuhai. The Y-shaped bridge starts from Lantau Island in Hong Kong with branches to Zhuhai and Macao.

The bridge will cut travel time from Hong Kong to both Zhuhai and Macao from three hours on the road to a 30-minute drive.

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2017-05/03/content_40735792.htm

 

[samsara]

A key step for world's longest sea bridge

Xinhua, May 3, 2017


A gigantic crane, which was transformed from a tanker, hoists a 6,000-ton key structure of the world's longest cross-sea bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao, May 2, 2017. The wedge, 12-meter-long and weighing more than 25 Airbus A380 jets, was lowered to connect the immersed tubes of the underground tunnel of the bridge. The 55-kilometer bridge connects Zhuhai in Guangdong Province with Hong Kong and Macao. It includes a 22.9-km bridge and 6.7-km underground tunnel. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)


A gigantic crane, which was transformed from a tanker, hoists a 6,000-ton key structure of the world's longest cross-sea bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao, May 2, 2017. The wedge, 12-meter-long and weighing more than 25 Airbus A380 jets, was lowered to connect the immersed tubes of the underground tunnel of the bridge. The 55-kilometer bridge connects Zhuhai in Guangdong Province with Hong Kong and Macao. It includes a 22.9-km bridge and 6.7-km underground tunnel. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)


A gigantic crane, which was transformed from a tanker, installs a 6,000-ton key structure of the world's longest cross-sea bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao, May 2, 2017. The wedge, 12-meter-long and weighing more than 25 Airbus A380 jets, was lowered to connect the immersed tubes of the underground tunnel of the bridge. The 55-kilometer bridge connects Zhuhai in Guangdong Province with Hong Kong and Macao. It includes a 22.9-km bridge and 6.7-km underground tunnel. (Xinhua/Liu Dawei)

Chinese engineers installed a 6,000-tonne key part of the world's longest cross-sea bridge

https://twitter.com/x/status/859668256273170432

 

[TaiShang]

Remote Chongqing villagers build road on cliff to end isolation
People's Daily Online | 2017-05-04

The road built on a 1,500-meter-high cliff by villagers in Chongqing. [Photo provided by People's Daily]


Residents of the village of Shuangping in Chongqing municipality built a road on a 1,500-meter-high cliff, connecting their village with the outside world.

Before the construction of the road, villagers had to spend four hours climbing an 800-meter ladder hung on the cliff's face if they wanted to enter or depart from Shuangping. The extremely dangerous journey caused many accidental deaths and property losses. A lack of traffic also impeded the village's economic and trade development. Many of the villagers were barely able to support themselves.

In order to shake off the shackles of poverty, the villagers independently began raising money in 1997 to build a road on the cliff. After a year of hard work, a preliminary road was finally completed. Later, it was further developed using government funds and social capital in 2011.

The road has lifted hundreds of people out of extreme poverty since its installation. In addition, the road has become a tourist site in its own right thanks to its beautiful views.

The road built on a 1,500-meter-high cliff by villagers in Chongqing [Photo provided by People's Daily]

 

[AndrewJin]

This expressway highlights the difficulty of building this expressway
Colombo - Katunayake Expressway

@Godman @Gibbs et al

 

[Godman]

This expressway highlights the difficulty of building this expressway
Colombo - Katunayake Expressway

@Godman @Gibbs et al

The hardest Expressway project in SL is going to be the Central Expressway as it goes to the Hill country but its nothing compared to China's mountains. China Metallurgical Group is involved in the project

 

[onebyone]

G60 Expressway Guizhou Section沪昆高速贵州清镇至平坝

 

[AndrewJin]

The hardest Expressway project in SL is going to be the Central Expressway as it goes to the Hill country but its nothing compared to China's mountains. China Metallurgical Group is involved in the project

Nice, a standardised 4-lane expressway, hope it can be finished soon.
It's very complicated to build such expressway not because the technology per se but how to balance local environment, tropical weather conditions and economic needs.

G60 Expressway Guizhou Section沪昆高速贵州清镇至平坝

OMG, can expressways in Guizhou more beautiful?
Shanghai-Kunming High-speed Railway or Shanghai-Kunming Expressway G60, which one to choose?

Check it out!
@Arsalan @Götterdämmerung @Gibbs @Jlaw @anant_s

 

[Place Of Space]

Key component of world's longest cross-sea bridge installed
Xinhua, May 3, 2017

The 55-kilometer bridge connecting Zhuhai in Guangdong province with Hong Kong and Macao is under construction on April 29, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]


Chinese engineers installed a 6,000-ton key structure of the world's longest cross-sea bridge linking Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macao.

The wedge, 12-meter-long and weighing more than 25 Airbus A380 jets, was lowered to connect the immersed tubes of the underground tunnel of the bridge, said Lin Ming, chief engineer of the island and tunnel section of the bridge.

The 55-kilometer bridge connects Zhuhai in Guangdong Province with Hong Kong and Macao. It includes a 22.9-km bridge and 6.7-km underground tunnel.

Before the wedge was installed on Tuesday, 33 immersed tubes, each 180 meters long and weighing 80,000 tons, had been installed.

"There is only one wedge for a tunnel, and we cannot afford to fail in its installation. It took two years to prepare for today," said Chen Yue, director of the engineers' office of the bridge's island and tunnel section. The installation procedure took about six hours.

"The margin of error for the wedge is 1.5 centimeters. We have to measure precisely the influence of wind, current and buoyancy force," said Lin.

"It is like putting a needle through a hole -- a truly unprecedented event in the history of transportation," Lin said.

A gigantic crane, which was transformed from a tanker, was used to hoist the wedge, lowering it to the desired destination between the underwater tubes.

The wedge will be welded and finished by June, Lin said.

By the end of the year, the bridge will be open to traffic, said Zhu Yongling, director of the bridge management bureau.

Construction began in December of 2009 at Zhuhai. The Y-shaped bridge starts from Lantau Island in Hong Kong with branches to Zhuhai and Macao.

The bridge will cut travel time from Hong Kong to both Zhuhai and Macao from three hours on the road to a 30-minute drive.

http://www.china.org.cn/china/2017-05/03/content_40735792.htm

Guess a lot of film directors will shoot over the bridge in their scenes.

 

[AndrewJin]

Fly over Yachihe Bridge
Guiyang-Qianxi provincial expressway, Guizhou Province

With a height of over 400 meters, the Yachi Bridge is not only the world's second highest cable stayed bridge but also one of the longest with a main span of 800 meters. Wedged between two long tunnels, the 1,461 meter long structure is supported by towers as tall as 258 meters. There is no other cable stayed bridge in the world in a mountain setting as colossal as Yachi Bridge. The 800 meter span is also a record for any truss-deck cable stayed crossing.

Despite an official height of over 400 meters, Yachi Bridge is actually only 306 meters above the surface of a huge reservoir more then 130 meters deep formed by the Yachi Dam that is located just 2 kilometers downstream. The road deck is at elevation 1,276 with the surface of the reservoir at 970 meters. The original river level was at 842 meters.

With steep slopes on both sides of the canyon, Yachi Bridge has unusually short but heavy concrete back spans of only 220 meters that counteract the pull of each of the 400 meter halfs of the 800 meter main span. The span configuration is 71+72+77+800+77+72+71 +8x30 meters. Yachi is the largest bridge on the 77 kilometer Guiyang to Qianxi 贵阳至黔西高速公路 expressway.

Yachi is one of several dozen bridges over the Wu River that are over 100 meters high. No other river on earth has as many high spans across its waters then the Wujiang. The Province of Guizhou has more high bridges within its borders then any other region on earth. All of the high bridges in Europe combined would not equal the number of Guizhou spans that exceed 100 meters in height.

Yachi Bridge might also hold the record for the fastest construction ever for a large size cable stayed span with a total construction time of 3 years. Crews were reportedly working 7 days a week on multiple shifts including holidays.

 

[cirr]

Automated wonder

Source:CFP Published: 2017/5/11 22:23:39

The first fully automated port in Asia goes into operation on Thursday in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province. The port will employ 85 percent fewer employees than conventional ports. The entire management system is under remote control (below), and the port is expected to handle 40 ships per hour. Its automation level will surpass the Rotterdam port in the Netherlands. Photos: CFP

A shipping container is loaded onto an unmanned vehicle by the automated hoisting equipment in Port of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, May 11, 2017. With designed capacity reaching 5.2 million TEU and the ability to serve 24000 containerships every year, the automated phase 4 of Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal was officially put into business operation on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Containership COSCO France berths at the automated containter terminal in Port of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, May 10, 2017. With designed capacity reaching 5.2 million TEU and the ability to serve 24000 containerships every year, the automated phase 4 of Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal was officially put into business operation on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

@Bussard Ramjet You guys have got a lot to learn from China and a long long way to go to see the back of China.

"空无一人" 青岛港全自动化码头投入商业运营

2017-05-12 13:35:02

【摘要】11日,记者来到青岛港前湾港区,在这里,全自动化码头装卸系统正在装卸作业,码头上空无一人,吊装、运输等过程全部由机器完成,井然有序。以作业3000箱的集装箱船舶为例,按照船舶运输和码头作业要求制定出每个箱的装载位置,传统码头人工配载需要4~5小时,自动化码头系统配载仅需要5~8分钟。

　　文/图　半岛全媒体记者　周晓荷通讯员　焦兰坤(署名除外)

　　5月11日,载箱量13386TEU的集装箱船“中远法国”停靠在青岛港前湾港区106泊位等待装卸。和传统码头人来人往不同,当日整个码头上“空无一人”,取而代之的是依靠智能生产控制系统远程遥控的全智能化机器作业。当日,青岛港全自动化集装箱码头正式投入商业运营,标志着当今世界最先进、亚洲首个真正意义的全自动化集装箱码头已经具备自动化全规模作业能力,真正实现了全自动化码头从概念设计到商业运营,开创了全自动化集装箱作业的新纪元。

　　11日,记者来到青岛港前湾港区,在这里,全自动化码头装卸系统正在装卸作业,码头上空无一人,吊装、运输等过程全部由机器完成,井然有序。“这艘货轮共4000多TEU需要装卸,预计在11日晚上就能全部完成。”青岛新前湾集装箱码头有限公司副总经理杨杰敏说。

　　没有一个人在现场,装卸工作是如何完成的?杨杰敏告诉记者,在全自动化码头目前两个泊位作业中,后方生产控制中心9个远程操控员承担了传统码头60多人的工作,减少操作人员约85%,提升作业效率约30%,码头设计作业效率可达每小时40自然箱,是当今世界自动化程度最高、装卸效率最快的集装箱码头。

　　全自动化码头装卸全景。

　　>>>揭秘

　　“魔鬼码头”单次作业仅几分钟

　　在杨杰敏口中,记者眼前的这个全自动化码头被称为“魔鬼码头”。整个码头看似“无人管理”,所有的机械、车辆全部自动运转,智能化机械将自动对集装箱进行装卸、堆存。

　　记者看到,全自动化双小车桥吊主小车在船上通过箱型扫描,实现抓取后自动运送到桥吊的中转平台,交由副小车将箱子放置在等候在陆地上的AGV自动化导航运输车上,运输车将集装箱顺利运送到轨道吊,轨道吊通过激光扫描系统准确定位集装箱四个锁孔,抓取集装箱并获取集装箱在堆场中的准确位置,并将其运送至目标位。整个过程一气呵成,不过几分钟的时间。

远程监控码头现场作业。(资料图片)

　　38个“机器人”可无限制续航

　　在整个全自动化码头中,最具看点的就是38个“机器人”,也就是陆地上的AGV自动化导航运输车。这些无人驾驶的车辆承担的功能是将集装箱从起始位置运送至目标位置。

　　“这些机器人的运行看起来很简单,但它的运行是非常复杂的。”杨杰敏说,从它的起始位置开始,根据计算机指定的位置,实时采集地面上的磁钉,磁钉提供物理信息传输到后台的计算机系统进行准确位置的计算,从而优化路径。同时,这38个互相配合的“机器人”创造了多项世界纪录:世界上重量最轻,全球首个可以循环补电、巡航里程无限制……据悉,小车采取全锂电池供电,并用机会充电方式给电池补电,绿色环保实现设备的无限循环作业。

　　38个“机器人”现场作业。

　　五大系统构成“智能化”大脑

　　据介绍,青岛港全智能化码头采用物联网感知、通信导航、模糊控制、信息网络、大数据云计算和安全防范等技术,融合“五大系统”(码头操作系统TOS、设备控制系统ECS、闸口控制系统GOS、电子数据交换系统EDI和网站预约查询系统),自主构建起全球领先的智能生产控制系统,为码头赋予一颗会思考、能决策的“大脑”。

　　>>>数据

　　自动化码头配载仅5～8分钟

　　全自动化码头效率有多高?“减少操作人员约85%,提升作业效率约30%”,这样的数据对于您而言,也许并不直观,但一个例子就可以更容易理解。以作业3000箱的集装箱船舶为例,按照船舶运输和码头作业要求制定出每个箱的装载位置,传统码头人工配载需要4~5小时,自动化码头系统配载仅需要5~8分钟。

　　>>>意义

　　港口建设“青岛模式”全球领先

　　青岛港全自动化码头的运营,坚持自主设计、自主研发、自主集成,构建了可推广复制、具有行业示范意义的“青岛模式”,在自动化、智能化方面引领第五代乃至第六代港口的发展方向。其中,依托青岛港集装箱作业、管理的先进经验,青岛港自主设计生产业务流程、规划码头总平面布局、建立指标体系和技术规格参数,低成本、短周期形成实施自动化码头系统总集成,构建起全球领先的自动化码头智能生产控制系统。

http://sd.china.com.cn/a/2017/lzjt_0512/960850.html

 

[AndrewJin]

Automated wonder

Source:CFP Published: 2017/5/11 22:23:39

The first fully automated port in Asia goes into operation on Thursday in Qingdao, East China's Shandong Province. The port will employ 85 percent fewer employees than conventional ports. The entire management system is under remote control (below), and the port is expected to handle 40 ships per hour. Its automation level will surpass the Rotterdam port in the Netherlands. Photos: CFP

A shipping container is loaded onto an unmanned vehicle by the automated hoisting equipment in Port of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, May 11, 2017. With designed capacity reaching 5.2 million TEU and the ability to serve 24000 containerships every year, the automated phase 4 of Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal was officially put into business operation on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

Containership COSCO France berths at the automated containter terminal in Port of Qingdao, east China's Shandong Province, May 10, 2017. With designed capacity reaching 5.2 million TEU and the ability to serve 24000 containerships every year, the automated phase 4 of Qingdao Qianwan Container Terminal was officially put into business operation on Thursday. (Xinhua/Zhu Zheng)

@Bussard Ramjet You guys have got a lot to learn from China and a long long way to go to see the back of China.

"空无一人" 青岛港全自动化码头投入商业运营

2017-05-12 13:35:02

【摘要】11日,记者来到青岛港前湾港区,在这里,全自动化码头装卸系统正在装卸作业,码头上空无一人,吊装、运输等过程全部由机器完成,井然有序。以作业3000箱的集装箱船舶为例,按照船舶运输和码头作业要求制定出每个箱的装载位置,传统码头人工配载需要4~5小时,自动化码头系统配载仅需要5~8分钟。

　　文/图　半岛全媒体记者　周晓荷通讯员　焦兰坤(署名除外)

　　5月11日,载箱量13386TEU的集装箱船“中远法国”停靠在青岛港前湾港区106泊位等待装卸。和传统码头人来人往不同,当日整个码头上“空无一人”,取而代之的是依靠智能生产控制系统远程遥控的全智能化机器作业。当日,青岛港全自动化集装箱码头正式投入商业运营,标志着当今世界最先进、亚洲首个真正意义的全自动化集装箱码头已经具备自动化全规模作业能力,真正实现了全自动化码头从概念设计到商业运营,开创了全自动化集装箱作业的新纪元。

　　11日,记者来到青岛港前湾港区,在这里,全自动化码头装卸系统正在装卸作业,码头上空无一人,吊装、运输等过程全部由机器完成,井然有序。“这艘货轮共4000多TEU需要装卸,预计在11日晚上就能全部完成。”青岛新前湾集装箱码头有限公司副总经理杨杰敏说。

　　没有一个人在现场,装卸工作是如何完成的?杨杰敏告诉记者,在全自动化码头目前两个泊位作业中,后方生产控制中心9个远程操控员承担了传统码头60多人的工作,减少操作人员约85%,提升作业效率约30%,码头设计作业效率可达每小时40自然箱,是当今世界自动化程度最高、装卸效率最快的集装箱码头。

　　全自动化码头装卸全景。

　　>>>揭秘

　　“魔鬼码头”单次作业仅几分钟

　　在杨杰敏口中,记者眼前的这个全自动化码头被称为“魔鬼码头”。整个码头看似“无人管理”,所有的机械、车辆全部自动运转,智能化机械将自动对集装箱进行装卸、堆存。

　　记者看到,全自动化双小车桥吊主小车在船上通过箱型扫描,实现抓取后自动运送到桥吊的中转平台,交由副小车将箱子放置在等候在陆地上的AGV自动化导航运输车上,运输车将集装箱顺利运送到轨道吊,轨道吊通过激光扫描系统准确定位集装箱四个锁孔,抓取集装箱并获取集装箱在堆场中的准确位置,并将其运送至目标位。整个过程一气呵成,不过几分钟的时间。

远程监控码头现场作业。(资料图片)

　　38个“机器人”可无限制续航

　　在整个全自动化码头中,最具看点的就是38个“机器人”,也就是陆地上的AGV自动化导航运输车。这些无人驾驶的车辆承担的功能是将集装箱从起始位置运送至目标位置。

　　“这些机器人的运行看起来很简单,但它的运行是非常复杂的。”杨杰敏说,从它的起始位置开始,根据计算机指定的位置,实时采集地面上的磁钉,磁钉提供物理信息传输到后台的计算机系统进行准确位置的计算,从而优化路径。同时,这38个互相配合的“机器人”创造了多项世界纪录:世界上重量最轻,全球首个可以循环补电、巡航里程无限制……据悉,小车采取全锂电池供电,并用机会充电方式给电池补电,绿色环保实现设备的无限循环作业。

　　38个“机器人”现场作业。

　　五大系统构成“智能化”大脑

　　据介绍,青岛港全智能化码头采用物联网感知、通信导航、模糊控制、信息网络、大数据云计算和安全防范等技术,融合“五大系统”(码头操作系统TOS、设备控制系统ECS、闸口控制系统GOS、电子数据交换系统EDI和网站预约查询系统),自主构建起全球领先的智能生产控制系统,为码头赋予一颗会思考、能决策的“大脑”。

　　>>>数据

　　自动化码头配载仅5～8分钟

　　全自动化码头效率有多高?“减少操作人员约85%,提升作业效率约30%”,这样的数据对于您而言,也许并不直观,但一个例子就可以更容易理解。以作业3000箱的集装箱船舶为例,按照船舶运输和码头作业要求制定出每个箱的装载位置,传统码头人工配载需要4~5小时,自动化码头系统配载仅需要5~8分钟。

　　>>>意义

　　港口建设“青岛模式”全球领先

　　青岛港全自动化码头的运营,坚持自主设计、自主研发、自主集成,构建了可推广复制、具有行业示范意义的“青岛模式”,在自动化、智能化方面引领第五代乃至第六代港口的发展方向。其中,依托青岛港集装箱作业、管理的先进经验,青岛港自主设计生产业务流程、规划码头总平面布局、建立指标体系和技术规格参数,低成本、短周期形成实施自动化码头系统总集成,构建起全球领先的自动化码头智能生产控制系统。

http://sd.china.com.cn/a/2017/lzjt_0512/960850.html

wow!
9 operators at the controlling centre for an entire port!

Automatic, driverless!

 

[cirr]

wow!
9 operators at the controlling centre for an entire port!

Automatic, driverless!

Yangshan Phase IV will be on a much larger scale.

 

[AndrewJin]

Yangshan Phase IV will be on a much larger scale.

Of course!
I've driven on the grand bridge to Yangshan Port before.
Magnificent bridge, magnificent port!

Yangshan Port (Chinese: 洋山港, p Yángshān Gǎng, Wu Yan-se Kaon), formally the Yangshan Deep-Water Port (洋山深水港), is a deep water port for container ships in Hangzhou Bay south of Shanghai. Connected to Shanghai's Pudong New Area by the Donghai Bridge and forming part of the Port of Shanghai, the islands of Greater and Lesser Yangshan are administered separately as part of Zhejiang's Shengsi County.

Built to allow the Port of Shanghai to grow despite shallow waters near the shore, it allows berths with depths of up to 15 metres (49 ft) to be built, and can handle today's largest container ships. The port is built on the islands of Greater and Lesser Yangshan, part of the Zhoushan archipelago, with fill from land reclamation.

It is connected to the mainland via the 32.5 km (20.2 mi) Donghai Bridge, opened on 1 December 2005 as the world's longest sea bridge. The six-lane highway bridge took 6,000 workers two and half years to construct.

In 2015, the port handled 36.54 million TEU up 3.5% over 2014. In 2013 the volume was 33.6 million TEU. In mid-2011, port officials said the port was on track to move 12.3 million TEUs during the year, up from 10.1 million TEUs in 2010.

 

[AndrewJin]

Guess a lot of film directors will shoot over the bridge in their scenes.

Yep

 

[AndrewJin]

Salute to China's high bridge designers
Hongxi Bridge survey

When it is completed, the Hongxi Bridge will become the second highest bridge in eastern China with a deck approximately 200 meters high. Zhejiang and Fujian Provinces are home to most of eastern China's highest spans. The tallest pier will be 160 meters supporting a large span of an unknown length. The crossing is part of an expressway that will connect Wencheng and Taishun cities.