A suspension bridge that spans 150 meters over the Dadong River Gorge in Chongqing, China, has been dubbed the world’s scariest suspension bridge, due to its precarious appearance and the tension it creates on those crossing it. Over the past two years, clips of heavy construction vehicles crossing the narrow, high bridge some 300 meters above the river have gone viral on social media, raising concerns about its safety. The bridge, which spans 240 meters, has no towers or support base, but rests solely on four steel cables, which can support vehicles weighing up to 45 tons. It is 12 meters wide, enough for only one vehicle to cross at a time, and despite safety nets on both sides, a mistake in movement can have serious consequences. Moving across it is especially difficult when there are strong winds. Fortunately, the Dadong River Gorge Suspension Bridge in Wulong District is a temporary project, designed to facilitate the construction of a more grandiose piece of infrastructure, the Shuangbao Bridge. When completed, this bridge will be the largest double-arch bridge in the world, spanning the Dadonghe and Xiaohegou rivers.
This temporary structure serves as a road for trucks and construction machinery, enabling access to the mountain where the construction of the central arch will be completed. Although the bridge has no towers or additional cables for support, its four massive steel cables provide sufficient stability for construction operations so far.
