Potain cranes build record-breaking Chongqing bridge

Two Potain MCT 560 M25 tower cranes are being used to build the south tower of the Shituo Yangtze River Bridge in Chongqing. The bridge is set to become the longest road-rail cable-stayed bridge with a split main span.

The cranes are operating about 285 m above the Yangtze River on the bridge's 253 m south tower, lifting steel reinforcement, formwork, and other large components for the Chongqing-Wanzhou High-Speed Railway project.

Once complete, the structure is expected to set four engineering records: the tallest twin-connected bridge towers, the first twin-tower cable-stayed bridge to carry both road and rail traffic, the first split main-beam bridge at the same deck level, and the longest span for a road-rail cable-stayed bridge with a split main span.

The topless tower cranes were chosen for their lifting reach and ability to climb as the tower rises. Each MCT 560 M25 has a maximum lifting capacity of 25 tonnes and can lift 4 tonnes at the tip of its 80 m jib.

The site also presents difficult operating conditions. Manufacturer details indicate the cranes are working in wind speeds of up to 20 m per second while carrying out lifting duties high above the river.

Previous use

The cranes are owned by Chongqing Haohai Construction Equipment Leasing, which bought them in 2020. Before moving to the Shituo Yangtze River Bridge, they were deployed on the Taiziping Wujiang River Bridge project, where they operated continuously from 2020 to 2024.

That earlier assignment helped inform the decision to use the same machines on the Chongqing bridge project. Chongqing Haohai said the cranes' performance on the previous bridge gave it confidence they would suit another high-altitude river crossing with heavy lifting demands.

Support is being provided through Manitowoc's customer support centre in Zhangjiagang, along with a wider technician network in China handling parts and maintenance.

Leo Qian, Marketing Manager, Manitowoc China, highlighted the crane model's performance on the project. "The Potain MCT 560 M25 delivers outstanding performance at height, climbing to over 200 m with a 25 t maximum capacity," said Qian.

"These characteristics make it well suited to the demands of high-altitude operations and heavy component handling on the Shituo Yangtze River Bridge, providing reliable performance to complete this demanding project."

Jin Zhongxue, General Manager, Chongqing Haohai Construction Equipment, said the company expected the cranes to meet the technical demands of the latest bridge project. "We believed that the cranes would be particularly well suited to the Shituo Yangtze River Bridge because of their high working height and their ability to continue climbing beyond 200 m. They also offer an impressive lifting capacity and deliver reliable performance in challenging conditions."

The bridge forms part of a wider rail link intended to strengthen connections in the Chongqing region, and construction of the south tower is one of the most technically demanding parts of the crossing.

The project is expected to open at the end of 2026.