Bridge in danger of collapse

Workers repair one of the damaged supports of the Xietang Grand Bridge Monday. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

Road workers close off the bridge to vehicles and pedestrians. Photo: Yang Hui/GT

Traffic police closed a bridge in Songjiang district Monday after residents reported finding cracks in the structure's supports.

The district's traffic police shut down the Xietang Grand Bridge to vehicles and pedestrians in the morning, warning that there was a risk the structure could collapse, according to a post on the traffic police's microblog at 10:30 am.

Police were taking measures to divert traffic from the bridge and asked drivers and pedestrians to take detours around the area.

The Songzheng Highway bridge, which opened in 1999, links Songjiang district with Hangzhou, a neighboring city in Zhejiang Province, the Xinmin Evening News reported.

A boat worker, who first noticed the cracks while traveling underneath the bridge, reported the damage to police Monday morning, said a press officer surnamed Yuan from the district government's press department.

Cracks have appeared on two of the supports on the bridge's west side, authorities said. One of the supports has begun to lean to one side. Maritime officials and police have determined that the bridge is in danger of falling down.

Maritime officials in patrol boats directed river traffic to pass underneath the center of the bridge. Boat drivers were also asked to slow down to avoid collisions.

A preliminary investigation has determined that a cargo ship crashed into the bridge's supports late Sunday, though police have not yet tracked down the culprits, authorities said. There have been other cases in which boats hit the bridge supports, though the incidents were minor.

Road, transportation and maritime authorities, as well as police, were investigating the case Monday, said a senior official from the Songjiang District Urban Construction and Communications Commission.

The authorities will come up with a plan to repair the bridge after they finish surveying the damage. The bridge, however, will remain closed for some time.