The Project will be in Tongling City, Anhui Province, and involves the construction of: (i) a two-way six-lane expressway and ancillary facilities (i.e. a toll station, a service area centre, a maintenance work area and other related service and safety facilities) on the upper deck, (ii) infrastructure to support four railway tracks. on the lower deck (iii) approaching roads, starting in Huayuan village and ending in Minzhu village, which will connect to the bridge. The bridge will be the world’s first road-rail layered cable-stayed suspension bridge, to use cross section stay cables and slings. The Project will utilise the latest technology to shorten the construction period and reduce the impact thereof on the environment.

The Project will provide an additional Yangtze River crossing channel to meet increasing traffic demand and alleviate congestion on the existing bridge that supports the G3 Expressway, which runs from the north to south of China, and planned railway routes.
The Project will contribute to the development of Anhui and the wider Yangtze River Delta (which has a population of over 235 million) as envisaged by the Layout Plan of Yangtze River Trunk Line River-Crossing Passages (2020-2035). The Project is expected to result in a significant reduction in road travel time across the Yangtze River within the Yangtze River Delta region

The People’s Government of Anhui Province will be responsible for planning the Project and exercising oversight over the implementation and monitoring achievement of targets. The People’s Government of Tongling Municipality, through its wholly owned company, the Tongling Comprehensive Transportation Investment Group (TCTIG) which acts as a project implementing unit, will be responsible for implementing the Project under the guidance of the Executing Agency. TCTIG has established Tongling Yangtze River Highway and Railway Investments Co., Ltd (Project Company) a wholly owned subsidiary, through which day-to-day implementation activities will be undertaken. The construction period of the Project is 3,5 years starting on 01 January 2022; operations will commence in the second half of 2025.

The Project has been classified as Category A in accordance with the NDB’s Environment and Social Framework. The main E&S impacts of the Project include: (i) effects on critical habitats and aquatic biological resources of the national protected area, the Tongling Yangtze River Dolphin National Natural Reserve (ii) land acquisition and resettlement; (iii) loss of vegetation; (iv) occupational safety risks; and (v) general environmental pollution emissions during construction and operation. Adherence to country system requirements and management plans developed for the Project, including an Aquatic Life Conservation Plan and an Environmental and Social Impact Management Plan will address and mitigate these impacts.

The Project will be financed through a loan from the NDB, debt from domestic banks and counterparty funding from government.