The Quanzhou Bay cross-sea bridge, part of the Fuzhou-Xiamen high-speed railway, is set to receive the Theodore Cooper Award at the 2024 International Bridge Conference in June. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The Quanzhou Bay cross-sea bridge, part of the Fuzhou-Xiamen high-speed railway, is set to receive the Theodore Cooper Award at the 2024 International Bridge Conference in June.

The bridge, with a length of 20.3 kilometers, is the world's first high-speed rail cross-sea bridge. Using innovative technology and corrosion-resistant steel for marine atmospheric exposure, it can adapt to complex environments such as strong winds, severe corrosion and earthquakes. Its lightweight structural design is green — having undergone low-carbon construction — and ensures smooth, comfortable and high-density train operations, according to the company.

It increases the world's maximum cross-sea bridge speed from 200 km to 350 km per hour, a breakthrough in bridge engineering.