Yuanxi Bridge, located in the Yuanxi Path along Changguangxi Wetland Park, Binhu district, wins national municipal maintenance award. [Photo/js.chinanews.com]

A total of seven projects in Wuxi won the "Bianque Award" for national municipal maintenance demonstration facilities, including the Yuanxi Bridge project in Wuxi Binhu district.

The award is given out by the China Municipal Engineering Association and is the nation's highest honor in the municipal maintenance industry. A total of 53 projects nationwide have won this award.

Located in the Yuanxi Path along Changguangxi Wetland Park, Yuanxi Bridge is a large cross-river bridge with a total length of 200.6 meters with?a total span of 195 meters and?a net width of 30 meters. The bridge hasn't seen any accidents since its construction was completed in 2009.

A worker performs the regular maintenance on Yuanxin Bridge. [Photo/js.chinanews.com]

The maintenance department has introduced new detection devices and techniques for the maintenance of Yuanxi Bridge and its pavement.

The department also uses an online information management system to ensure the real-time monitoring of damages on the bridge and take timely measures.

Review experts believe that the facilities of Yuanxi Bridge are well-quipped and meet the standards for maintenance quality, and its maintenance work is also in place. The Yuanxi Bridge area was rated a "Quality Area for the Maintenance of Municipal Facilities" in Wuxi in 2017.

"The key to bridge maintenance lies in prevention. Only if the early signs of damages are detected in advance can we prolong the service life of bridges," said an official from Wuxi Municipal Maintenance Department.