How Did a Brand-New Bridge Collapse in China? Experts Blame Speed Over Safety

A section of the Hongqi Bridge in Sichuan province collapsed on 11 November 11, just months after opening, following a mountain slope failure that triggered a landslide. The bridge, part of National Highway 317 in Maerkang City, had shown signs of instability the day before, prompting emergency closures. While no casualties were reported, the incident has reignited concerns about the pace and oversight of China's infrastructure development.

Early Warning Signs and Emergency Response

On Monday afternoon, local authorities detected slope deformation on the right bank of the Hongqi Bridge. By 5:25 p.m., officials had identified potential risks and activated an emergency response. Teams from public security, transportation, and natural resources departments arrived on-site, evacuating stranded vehicles and installing warning signs to prevent unauthorised access.

Despite these precautions, the situation worsened rapidly. By Tuesday afternoon, the slope gave way, triggering a landslide that collapsed the bridge's approach section and roadbed. Videos posted online show bridge piers and decks crumbling amid clouds of smoke and dust.

A Bridge Built for Speed, Not Stability?

The Hongqi Bridge had only recently been completed in early 2025. Promotional materials from the contractor, Sichuan Road & Bridge Group, emphasised the project's scale and strategic importance in connecting China's heartland to Tibet. However, experts say the collapse reflects deeper issues in China's infrastructure model, particularly in the prioritisation of speed over safety.

In a 2024 peer-reviewed study published in MDPI, researchers Dina Tang and Minshui Huang of Wuhan Institute of Technology identified recurring vulnerabilities in Chinese bridge projects. These include rushed construction timelines, insufficient slope analysis, and inadequate geotechnical surveys—especially in mountainous regions like Sichuan, where terrain is complex and prone to geological shifts. The authors argue that long-term resilience is often sacrificed in favour of rapid delivery, increasing the risk of catastrophic failures in structurally sensitive zones (Tang & Huang, 2024).

Environmental Stressors and Hydropower Context

The bridge's proximity to the Shuangjiangkou Hydropower Station reservoir may have introduced environmental stressors such as fluctuating water levels, sedimentation, and terrain instability, which are factors that often complicate infrastructure resilience in mountainous regions.

The bridge was intended to enhance regional connectivity and economic development; its failure has raised questions about whether environmental risks were properly accounted for during planning and execution.

Public Reaction and Accountability

The collapse has unleashed a torrent of commentary across social media, where users have responded with sarcasm, scepticism, and satire. Posts range from quips like 'the bridge does that when it's nervous' and 'made of only the best tofu' to jabs at China's rapid development model, with one user remarking, 'everything looks futuristic when you strap colourful LED lights to it.' Others speculated wildly, joking about self-destruct features, ChatGPT engineers, and phantom bridge experts. Beneath the humour, however, runs a thread of public distrust. Many users are questioning whether speed and spectacle have overtaken safety and accountability in China's infrastructure boom.

Local authorities have yet to provide a timeline for reopening the highway. Detour routes have been announced, and investigations into the collapse are underway. Officials have not confirmed whether design flaws, construction errors, or environmental triggers were the primary cause.

A Pattern of Failures?

This incident adds to a growing list of infrastructure failures in China, including bridge collapses in Guangxi and Henan provinces. While each case has unique circumstances, experts warn that systemic issues such as rushed execution, limited oversight, and environmental neglect are recurring themes.

As China continues to expand its infrastructure footprint, the Hongqi Bridge collapse serves as a stark reminder that durability and safety must not be sacrificed for speed. Long-term resilience, especially in geologically sensitive regions, demands more than engineering ambition—it requires accountability, transparency, and time.