Chinese Bridge Collapses Just Months After Opening

A newly constructed 758-metre span bridge in southwestern China has partially collapsed only months after its inauguration, raising serious concerns about the safety and oversight of the country’s rapid infrastructure push.

Officials say the bridge, built by Sichuan Road & Bridge Group as part of the national highway network linking central China with Tibet, was closed to traffic the day before the collapse after cracks appeared in the surrounding terrain.

On the afternoon of the incident, a landslide triggered the failure of the approach ramp and roadbed, sending concrete and steel into the river below.

While no casualties were reported, the timing and location of the collapse illustrate bigger red flags.

First, the project opened only months earlier—suggesting either design deficiencies or inadequate risk assessment in a mountainous, geologically unstable region. Second, it highlights how China’s infrastructure boom sometimes prioritises speed and scale over rigorous scrutiny and resilient engineering. Third, the decision to proceed with construction in high-risk terrain (prone to landslides and seismic activity) demands deeper accountability: were local conditions properly evaluated? Was the builder or supervising authority held to strict standards?