Recently, the evaluation of 2022 International Bridge Conference (IBC) awards was completed. The Yarlung Zangbo River Bridge on the Lhasa-Nyingchi section of the Sichuan-Tibet Railway won the Theodore Cooper (Railway Bridge) award. The bridge was surveyed and designed by China Railway Eryuan Engineering Group, undertaken by China Railway Guangzhou Engineering Group, and co-built by China Railway Hi-tech Industry Corporation Limited and China Railway Academy Co., Ltd.

　　The Yarlung Zangbo River Bridge under construction

　　The Yarlung Zangbo River Bridge, located in Jiacha County, Tibet Autonomous Region, is a double-track railway bridge with a design speed of 160 km/h and a 430-meter half-through concrete-filled steel tubular arch. The bridge deck is 3,344 meters above sea level, with a maximum daily temperature difference of 25℃. Situated in an 8-degree earthquake area with steep terrains, it becomes the longest-span concrete-filled steel tubular arch bridge in the world, with the highest altitude and seismic intensity. It is the first time in China that coating-free weather-resistant steel has been used in the main structure of railway bridges, which ensures the bridge is corrosion resistant for 100 years without the use of protective coatings. The bridge was completed and opened to traffic on June 25, 2021.

　　International Bridge Conference (IBC), sponsored by the Engineers' Society of Western Pennsylvania, is an international academic conference with high reputation and wide influence in the world bridge industry. Launched in 1988, the annual IBC awards commend outstanding projects and individuals in global bridge industry in terms of design, practicality, concept, environmental resources, etc.