The Lixinsha Bridge in Nansha, Guangzhou was hit by a ship and the anti-collision capacity reinforcement and improvement project was postponed three times.

　　CCTV News: The Guangzhou Maritime Safety Administration reported that at about 05:30 on February 22, an empty container ship, en route from Nanhai, Foshan to Nansha, Guangzhou, touched the pier of the Lixinsha Bridge while passing through the Hongqi Lishui Channel, causing serious damage. The deck of Lixinsha Bridge broke. The cause of the accident and the casualties are under investigation and verification.

　　Public information shows that the Lixinsha Bridge (the second Hongqili Bridge) is located about 438 meters upstream of the dock of Guangzhou Zhizhiyuan Oil Industry Co., Ltd. and crosses the Hongqili Waterway.

　　In October 2021, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Transportation issued the "Review Opinions on the Impact Assessment of the Navigation Conditions of the Navigation Bridge Anti-Collision Capacity Reinforcement and Improvement Project in Nansha District, Guangzhou City (Lixinsha Bridge, Gaoxinsha Bridge)", which pointed out that comprehensive Considering the needs of bridge structure safety and navigation safety, it is agreed in principle to install anti-collision facilities at the navigation hole piers (upstream and downstream sides of the bridge piers). It is planned to install the navigation hole piers (16#, 17#, 18#, and 19# piers) of the Lixinsha Bridge. Install attached anti-collision facilities.

Source: Official website of Guangdong Provincial Department of Transportation

　　Official information shows that the project is being constructed by Hunan Changde Road and Bridge Construction Group Co., Ltd.

Information released by the Guangzhou Nansha Maritime Department shows that the construction operation time is from April 12, 2022 to September 15, 2022.

　　But since then, the Guangzhou Nansha Maritime Department has announced two project extensions, postponed to March 15, 2023 and August 31, 2023.

　　On September 4, 2023, the Guangdong Provincial Department of Transportation issued another announcement extending the validity period of this operation to August 31, 2024.

　　No reason for the project delay was mentioned in the announcement.

　　In addition, CCTV reporters noticed that on July 26, 2019, due to serious diseases in the approach box girder of the Lixinsha Bridge (center pile number K3+083), it was assessed as a Category IV bridge by the bridge inspection unit. In order to ensure the safety of the bridge The Guangzhou Nansha District Transportation Bureau implemented measures to restrict the passage of vehicles with a total weight of over 15 tons on the Lixinsha Bridge at 16:00 on July 26, 2019.

　　On July 2, 2020, the Nansha District Transportation Bureau issued an announcement to lift traffic restrictions on the Lixinsha Bridge.

The announcement stated that the Lixinsha Bridge has been repaired and reinforced. After inspection and evaluation by the bridge inspection unit, it has been upgraded to a Category II bridge. The technical condition is in good condition, and the vehicle weight limit on the Lixinsha Bridge has been increased to 20 tons.