LEAP OF LEARNING

This article reports progress on the construction of the Jiang Yin Bridge across the Yangtse River in China, which is the world's fourth longest suspension bridge. After an earlier setback, work on the 1385m span bridge is almost back to its original schedule. After a series of difficult 'battles', a genuine team spirit has been forged between the two contractors on the project, Kvaerner Cleveland Bridge and Jiangsu Yangtse Bridge Construction. Work on Cleveland's superstructure steelwork bridge contract did not begin very well. After that, work in cable spinning and bridge deck erection was slow. It took five months to finish the first eight double-unit deck modules, but the next 36 were completed in six and a half months. Many of the problems came from an initial clash of cultures between the contractors and subcontractors, and different management methods, expectations, and past experience. It was painful for both sides to learn new ways of working together, but suddenly their mutual collaboration became effective. Systems are in place for structural monitoring, using a combination of equipment, real-time data processing, and laser-based optical systems to monitor bridge movements. The next critical operation is to weld the deck units.