Chongqing's 'most complicated' overpass isn't that difficult to navigate: designer

Huangjuewan Overpass

The world’s “most complicated” overpass in southwest China’s Chongqing is designed to meet transportation demand, and drivers won’t lose their way with the help of road signs and navigation systems, according to the designer.

The newly completed Huangjuewan Overpass in the city’s Nan’an District has gained widespread attention after photos of the overpass were posted online, with some netizens saying it would be a great challenge for any navigation system.

“You’ll have to drive around the entire city if you take the wrong ramp,” some joked. The five-story overpass connects more than 20 ramps and links to eight different roads.

Liu Bangjun, who designed the overpass, said that the design was required because it connects three expressways going to different destinations, and drivers can turn around within 10 minutes if they take the wrong route.

Liu said painting the roads in different colors may not fit well with the surrounding environment, but it may help drivers find the correct route.

The design of the overpass took Liu and his team five years to finish, and the construction work took another seven years to complete. The blueprint was never changed, only minor adjustments were made during its construction, Liu said.

They encountered some difficulties during its construction, Liu said. They had to choose to adopt different structures such as concrete-filled steel tubular columns and composite beams in order not to disrupt traffic on the operative roads which the overpass was built over. A lot of efforts were needed to arrange the construction work.

Liu said they’ll consider changing road signs to help drivers find their route. They’ll make more improvements to the overpass after soliciting some public opinions.