World's tallest bridge in China to slash mountain travel time to minutes starting June

Spanning the Beipan River, the Huajiang Canyon Bridge has been under construction for three years and cost approximately $283 million, according to Popular Science. Once operational, the bridge will dramatically reduce travel time between two mountainous regions, from over an hour to just minutes.

Engineers opted for a suspension bridge design to meet the challenges posed by the deep canyon and rugged terrain. The slim, aerodynamic structure also helps reduce wind resistance and visual impact, according to Mamdouh El-Badry, a civil engineering professor at the University of Calgary.

Speaking to Newsweek, El-Badry noted that the construction likely involved cable crane systems and precision anchoring.

The mountainous location and harsh weather made transporting materials to the site especially difficult, further highlighting the project's engineering complexity.

China already holds eight of the top 10 tallest bridges in the world. The current record-holder, the Duge Bridge, also located in Guizhou, stands 565 meters above the Beipan River. The Huajiang Canyon Bridge will surpass that by 60 meters.

Beyond its utility, the bridge is expected to become a tourist attraction thanks to its sweeping views of the canyon landscape. Chief engineer Li Zhao said he was proud of the project and its contribution, CNBC reported.