The bridge has a total length of 1,408 meters. Its main bridge is a steel truss composite girder continuous rigid-frame structure with a span arrangement of 100+176+176+100 meters, the world's largest span for a bridge of its kind — these are the bridge data for the under-construction Shaxi Bridge on the Puyan Expressway. Standing by the Shaxi River in the Moon Bay Scenic Area of Sanming, Fujian, and looking up at the bridge, it resembles a skyward avenue connecting the mountains.

Sanming's typical mountainous environment has brought considerable difficulties to the construction of the Shaxi Bridge. According to Li Ming, design head of the Shaxi Bridge project general contracting department of CCCC Second Harbor Engineering Co., Ltd., the bridge construction is highly difficult and carries high safety risks. "We specially designed a series of construction countermeasures for the special terrain and topography, and during this period dozens of papers and patents were produced."

In constructing across typical mountainous canyon terrain such as national highways, railways, rivers and hillsides, the builders overcame the impact of unfavorable factors and ensured that the project progressed methodically on schedule. At the same time, low-carbon green materials such as weathering steel were used, which, while saving costs, will greatly reduce maintenance workload during operation and achieve the most economical goal over the entire life cycle of the steel girders.

At present, all approach bridges of the Shaxi Bridge have been erected, and the next step will be the hoisting of the steel truss girders.

"The Shaxi Bridge is an important controlling project on the final 38 kilometers of the Fujian section of the Puyan Expressway and is a 'super project' within Sanming," said Zhong Houcheng, assistant general manager of Sanming Puyan Expressway Company. After the bridge is completed, it will greatly shorten the travel time and distance between mountainous areas along the route and will play an important role in promoting local rural revitalization and industrial development.