Rendering of the bridge. (Photo: jschina.com.cn)

NANJING, Jan. 9 (Xinhua) -- Construction started on a cable-stayed bridge with the world's longest span (1,176 meters) in east China's Jiangsu Province Wednesday.

The bridge is part of 5.3-km-long cross-river passage that composes of expressways on the upper level and highways and intercity railways on the lower level over the Yangtze River.

The six-lane expressways have a maximun speed of 100 km per hour, and the four-lane highways will a maximum speed of 80 km per hour

Advanced materials and new technologies will be used in the construction of the world-class bridge, said Wen Wusong, general manager of the company that will construct the passage.

The passage is of great strategic significance in advancing the integrated development of local areas and promoting the construction of the Yangtze River economic belt and Belt and Road.