Statuesque Bridges and Magnificent Tunnels of Shanghai City

In State-building Strategy Number Two, Industrial Plan Introduction, Mr. Sun Yat-sen said “Only if we have the power to develop industry ourselves will China survive. If others control our industrial development, China will perish. From now on, whether China survives or perishes depends on our ability to develop industry.” He asserted that for China to be strong and independent, we need to build our own factories and businesses. We cannot let other countries control all the industry in China. Developing our own modern industry is super important for China’s future. Industry helps make countries rich and powerful. 

In the past, travel between Shanghai’s Puxi and Pudong areas took 3 hours by ferry. But with Shanghai’s economic development after 1978, ferry service was not capable of meeting people’s demand of cross-river commute, and better transportation infrastructure was needed. There were more than one million people who needed to travel across Huangpu River. New bridges and tunnels were critical to connect Shanghai and enable growth. 

In the 1960s, the Shanghai government began constructing the Zhongshan ring road to connect the city. However, issues arose that prevented completing the full loop. By 1986, most of the ring road was built except for a missing section in Pudong. This fragmented ring road was described as able to ring but not connect, able to go but obstructed. To solve this problem, the renowned engineer Mr. Yuanpei Li proposed building Shanghai’s first bridge, the Nanpu Bridge. At the time, Shanghai debated whether to construct a bridge or a tunnel. Ultimately, they chose a bridge for two key reasons. First, a prominent bridge would be a landmarks visible to travelers, while a tunnel would be hidden underground. Second, building their own bridge with local resources would be more affordable than hiring foreign engineers who demanded high costs. The Nanpu Bridge project represented Shanghai’s first self-built bridge, an important milestone. This paved the way for more bridges and tunnels to improve connectivity in the city. 

The Huangpu River, spanning 113km through Shanghai, provides a key location for building bridges and tunnels. These are crucial for connecting the Pudong and Puxi areas separated by the river. Over 13 bridges have been constructed over the Huangpu to directly join the two banks.

Nanpu Bridge 

In the 1980s, engineer Guohao Li led discussions on designing Shanghai’s first self-built bridge. They decided on a cable-stayed bridge design and named it the Nanpu Bridge. Constructing the Nanpu Bridge faced major challenges. The weather often halted work, with rain and wind forcing long delays. After a year, the project was nearing completion but ran into further difficulties. Engineers had to overcome extreme heat up to 60°C inside the bridge structure. Despite the obstacles, after persevering through weather and temperature issues, the Nanpu Bridge was finally completed in 1991. This impressive engineering feat marked a historic milestone for  Shanghai.

Lupu Bridge 

Finished in 2003, the Lupu Bridge stands out as Shanghai’s first arch bridge. As China’s longest arch bridge, it improves connectivity to Shanghai’s financial district Lujiazui in Pudong. The Lupu Bridge features scenic pedestrian walkways and elevators rising high above the Huangpu River. 

In summary, Shanghai’s iconic bridges help connect districts above Huangpu River. The Nanpu bridge enabled Pudong’s development as the financial center, and the Yangpu bridge has helped Shanghai to expand her economy to the east direction. Numerous bridges facilitate the volume of transport between different districts and areas. The bridges over the Huangpu River have made all the iconic landmarks to form the city’s identity. In conclusion, those bridges are critical infrastructure that knit together all the fragment parts and show the city’s form and function.

Meanwhile, major tunnels like the Dalian Road Tunnel greatly reduce travel times under the Huangpu River. Tunnels also allow roads to run underground, avoiding congested surface streets. For instance, the Shanghai Inner Ring Road has a 6km tunnel segment bypassing traffic above. With the dense concentration of skyscrapers in areas like Lujiazui, there is limited space for above-ground transportation links. Thus, tunnels provide efficient below-ground connectivity in these districts. Moreover, Shanghai’s large population and fragmented geography create a strong need for tunnels. They provide direct connections between districts divided by the Huangpu River and other waterways crisscrossing the city. Tunnels enable convenient travel between places like Pudong and Puxi while bypassing surface traffic jams. Additionally, tunnels link expressways and improve overall transportation in Shanghai. With limited space for bridges, tunnels are essential infrastructure enabling connectivity and transit in this densely populated metropolis. 

Dapulu Tunnel 

Completed and opened in 1971, Dapu Road Tunnel was the very first tunnel not only in Shanghai but also in China. The whole length of the tunnel is 2,761 meters with 600 under the Huangpu River. 

East Yanan Road Tunnel 

As the second cross-river tunnel in Shanghai, East Yanan Road Tunnel was completed and opened in 1989. It was very important to the development of Shanghai. In a certain sense, it played the prelude to the development and opening of Pudong.

Renmin Road Tunnel 

Renmin Road Tunnel was completed in 2010, and its completion helped to reduce the transportation pressure on East Yanan Road Tunnel. In addition, it also helped to ease the traffic for World Expo and improved the traffic cross-river. 

The extensive tunnel network has significantly improved transportation efficiency and connectivity in Shanghai. The city has rapidly expanded its underground infrastructure, including new subway routes and road tunnels. This massive investment has enabled faster, more reliable public transit. Tunnels allow direct travel beneath the Huangpu River and other waterways, reducing commute times compared to being stuck in surface traffic. Additionally, tunnels contribute to improved air quality. By moving vehicles underground, there is less congestion and emissions released at ground-level. Shanghai has made progress in decreasing dangerous PM2.5 particulate pollution, partially attributable to the tunnel network reducing above-ground traffic. 

In summary, the ongoing expansion of tunnels has been crucial for enhancing connectivity, cutting commute times, upgrading transit reliability, and reducing transport-related pollution. This exemplifies how vital this underground infrastructure is for a densely populated city like Shanghai. 

In conclusion, these bridges and tunnels have been critical in connecting Shanghai districts divided by waterways. They enabled economic growth by allowing convenient transit between places like Pudong and Puxi. This infrastructure has increased transportation efficiency, reduced commute times, and improved air quality. 

Looking ahead, Shanghai plans additional bridges and tunnels like Jiasong and Fongpu East to further expand its transportation network. Although Shanghai already has advanced infrastructure, new projects will help alleviate traffic jams at peak hours. Once completed, they will ease congestion between Pudong and Puxi and facilitate development in eastern Shanghai. With these construction projects underway, Shanghai’s transportation system will become even more comprehensive. 

Building and maintaining bridges and tunnels poses immense engineering challenges. Shanghai’s bridges and tunnels exemplify creative solutions that have transformed the city. These monumental structures enabled Shanghai to become a global metropolis. As citizens, we must protect this infrastructure so vital for connectivity and growth. Shanghai’s past achievements in bridge and tunnel construction will continue shaping an even more impressive future for the city.