The Xihoumen Bridge, located in Zhoushan City, in the Chinese province of Zhejiang, is the longest steel box grid suspension bridge in the world equipped with the largest structural monitoring system in the world.

And the 17,886-ft bridge (5451 m) is the recipient of the 2010 Gustav Lindenthal Medal, awarded on June 7 at annual International Bridge Conference in Pittsburgh, PA.

The award is named after celebrated bridge engineer Gustav Lindenthal who became know for his innovative ideas, vision and foresight during the technology boom of the late 19th and early 20th centuries.

Bayer MaterialScience LLC, the sponsor, presented the award.

The Xihoumen Bridge is the main component of the Zhoushan Island-Mainland Connection Project, which is comprised of a string of five sea-crossing bridges stretching for nearly 29 miles. The project links the Zhoushan Archipelago and Ningbo City in Zhejiang Province over the East China Sea.

Designed by CCCC Highway Consultants Co., Ltd., the Xihoumen Bridge complements other bridges in the area and reflects the local culture. For example, its Fuguang yellow color recalls ancient Buddhist roots, while its modern pylon and anchorage shape blends neatly into the surrounding mountains and sea.

Local surroundings also influenced the structural design of the bridge. The bridge is located in an area of strong winds – from both summer typhoons and winter monsoons. The weather conditions not only shortened the construction window, but also demanded a max design for wind speed of 134.91 ft./s for 100 years. As a safety measure, the world’s largest structural monitoring system was installed on the bridge to monitor its day-to-day structural performance and to verify the accuracy of design and construction – making this an “intelligent” bridge.

The Xihoumen Bridge employs many new design techniques and serves as a prime example of successful long-span bridge construction in a marine environment. One new technique employs a twin box girder design that uses less steel than traditional truss girders and also provides better wind resistance. This is the first time that a twin box girder design was adopted in a long-span suspension bridge specifically to provide necessary wind resistance. The box girders on the Xihoumen Bridge are made of an orthotropic steel structure.

The bridge deck features a four-lane expressway that soars more than 162 ft above the water. The expressway was opened to traffic on December 25, 2009, and since its completion, the bridge approach has become another vibrant symbol of bustling Zhoushan City, which has grown into a tourist attraction and a base of technical exchange.

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