Xiamen section of Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge joined

The Xiamen section of the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge in Fujian province was joined on Tuesday morning, ahead of a scheduled year-end opening.

The Xiamen section of the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge in Fujian province was joined early on Tuesday morning. (Photo: China Daily)

Builders hoisted the final 3,318-metric-ton steel box girder into place using a 5,500-ton floating crane, before fine-tuning its alignment with synchronized hydraulic jacks.

The newly linked span is the final segment of the 14.2-kilometer offshore mainline. Crews are now paving the deck, installing electromechanical components, and working on traffic safety.

The Xiamen section of the Xiamen-Jinmen Bridge in Fujian province was joined early on Tuesday morning. (Photo: China Daily)

Totaling 19.6 kilometers, the Xiamen section integrates the offshore bridge, branch links, and onshore tunnels. Its cross-sea main route features a dual eight-lane highway designed for speeds up to 100 km per hour.

Once open, the bridge will slash travel time between Xiamen Island and Dadeng Island — home to the new Xiamen Xiang'an International Airport, also set to begin operations by year-end.

Designed as a direct cross-Strait transport corridor linking Xiamen and Jinmen, the full bridge project is planned to extend from Xiamen Island via Dadeng Island to Jinmen Island to strengthen cross-Strait connectivity.