On May 15, reporters at the construction site downstream of the Huangpu River observed the initiation of the "armor" installation on the right side of the main navigation span of Fengpu Bridge, marking a further upgrade of the "collision guard" for the bridge, which has been in operation for 29 years. Upon completion of the project, the bridge's pillar collision resistance will be enhanced to 5000 tons.

  Over the river, transport vessels continuously deliver floating flexible collision protection systems from the north bank to near the bridge pillars, where they are then hoisted by workboats and positioned as per the plan. These prominent red floating flexible collision protection devices cover 1.2 meters below and 2.8 meters above the water surface, and can adjust their buoyancy according to the water level.

  The reporter learned that the main material of these floating flexible collision protection systems is steel, completely covered with fiber-reinforced composite materials, which perfectly combines the durability of steel and the wear and corrosion resistance of fiber-reinforced composites. In the event of a vessel colliding with the bridge pillar, the vessel first contacts the floating device, which absorbs the impact energy at the moment of collision and redistributes the force, thus cushioning the impact and minimizing damage to both the bridge pillar and the vessel.

  "Due to the installation of collision protection systems, a large part of the navigable waterway is occupied, which has some impact on the safe passage of other vessels. We have been closely monitoring the construction site," explained He Wei, Deputy Captain of the Xidu Marine Patrol Enforcement Team of the Minhang Maritime Bureau. "We organize vessel traffic using drones, patrol boats, and electronic 'three-in-one' cruising methods to ensure construction safety and normal vessel navigation."

  According to the Maritime Bureau, the Fengpu Bridge over the river includes four pillars, physically dividing it into three navigable spans from south to north, directing vessel traffic based on vessel size and direction. The floating flexible collision protection systems for Pillars 1 and 2 have been installed, and the installation that began on the 15th concerns Pillar 3. The Fengpu Bridge Pillar Collision Protection Enhancement Project is divided into two phases: the first phase of the base construction has been completed, connecting the bases on either side of the Fengpu Bridge and the Fengpu East Bridge and reinforcing the base structure to enhance the overall structural impact resistance. The second phase involves the installation of the floating flexible collision protection systems, employing a combination of prefabricated sections at the factory and onsite assembly to facilitate future maintenance and replacement.

  It is understood that the Fengpu Bridge, which was opened to traffic on October 26, 1995, has faced increasing risks of vessel collisions due to the rapid development of inland shipping in the Yangtze River Delta and the gradual increase in ship sizes. The original design of the bridge's pillars had a collision resistance capacity of 1,000 tons, which is now significantly below the tonnage of vessels navigating the bridge area, posing a major safety hazard to water traffic. The project to enhance the collision resistance facilities of the Fengpu Bridge's pillars has been included in the three-year special rectification plan for water traffic safety by the Ministry of Transport and the Shanghai Municipal Government. Currently, the reconstruction of the entire bridge's collision resistance facilities is expected to be completed by the end of May, after which the bridge's collision resistance level will be upgraded to 5,000 tons.