First Temporary Bridge Completed for Qinghai-Tibet RailwayThe first temporary bridge on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, which is to be built across the world highest Qinghai-Tibet Plateau, has been completed and will put into operation in the near future.With a weight bearing capacity of 60 tons, the bridge was designed to transport machines for digging a tunnel 4210 meters above sea-level, sources said. The bridge was framed in green steel with a stone pier and wooden bridge decking. More Bridges, TunnelsBridges and tunnels will account for 7 percent of the total length of the Gelmud-Lhasa section of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway, the highest in the world.According to a latest bulletin released by the railway's construction headquarters, the longest tunnel on the Qinghai-Tibet Railway will be 1,720 meters long. The Qinghai-Tibet Railway is one of the most ambitious projects in history. Its Xining-Gelmud section was completed and opened to traffic in 1984. Last year, China decided to continue construction of the most difficult Gelmud-Lhasa section of the railway, in an effort to help improve the traffic conditions on the Tibet Plateau, known as the "roof of the world". The total length of the Gelmud-Lhasa Railway will be 1,118 kilometers, of which 965 kilometers will be built in places more than 4,000 meters above sea level. Qinghai-Tibet Railway Project to Start on June 29The massive construction project of the Qinghai-Tibet Railway is scheduled to begin on June 29, when inauguration ceremonies will be held simultaneously in Beijing, Lhasa and Golmud in Qinghai, sources with railway department said Sunday. Ten successful bidders for the totally state-funded project from within China are moving their work forces, equipment and logistics to the highland work sites of the railway, officials with the Ministry of Railways said. |
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