Zaha Hadid-designed Danjiang Bridge in Taiwan scheduled for 2024 opening

After winning the competition back in 2015, Zaha Hadid Architects was appointed to design the Danjiang Bridge in Taiwan. Today, ZHA announced the start of construction on the 920-meter structure, which will reportedly be the world's longest single-mast, asymmetric cable-stayed bridge, ZHA says. As of right now, the $405.2 million bridge will be constructed in 68 months and open in 2024.

The bridge will span the mouth of the Tamsui River estuary, an important natural ecosystem that has been attracting more tourism as a recreational area. A critical element in upgrading northern Taiwan's infrastructure, the new bridge will reduce traffic congestion on local highways, as well as the existing Guandu Bridge by 30 percent. 

It will also improve connectivity between the region, the Port of Taipei, and the Taoyuan International Airport. And it's also expected to shorten the journey between Bali and Tamsui on either side of the river by 15 kilometers, which would save 25 minutes of travel time for those crossing the river.

The bridge features a slender 200-meter concrete mast (designed with Sinotech Engineering Consultants and Leonhardt, Andrä and Partner) that supports the main 450-meter span, which will have designated road, cycling, and pedestrian lanes. It'll also be able to accommodate the future expansion of the Danhai Light Rail network. 

According to ZHA, this single-mast design minimizes both its visual impact as well as its disruption to the riverbed, in accordance with nature protection programs for the Tamsui estuary.

Project Team 

Architect: Zaha Hadid Architects
Design: Zaha Hadid, Patrik Schumacher
Project Directors (Competition): Charles Walker, Manuela Gatto
Project Architect (Competition): Shao-wei Huang
Design Associate (Competition): Paulo Flores
Lead Designer (Competition): Saman Saffarian
Project Team (Competition): Evgeniya Yatsyuk, Paul Bart, Sam Sharpe, Silviya Barzakova, Julian Lin, Ramon Weber
Project Director (Delivery): Cristiano Ceccato
Project Architect (Delivery): Shao-wei Huang
Project Team (Delivery): Carlos Michel-Medina, Chien-shuo Pai, Julian Lin, Elena Scripelliti
Project BIM Support (Delivery): Paul Ehret
Lead structural engineering consultancy and JV Partner: Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner (Leonhardt, Andrä und Partner, Beratende Ingenieure VBI AG , Germany)
Local engineering consultants and JV Partner: Sinotech Engineering Consultants (Sinotech Engineering Consultants, Ltd, Taiwan, R.O.C.)
Lighting designer: Chroma33 Architectural Lighting Design (Taiwan, R.O.C.)

All images courtesy of Zaha Hadid Architects.