Water Sleeve Overpass

The Water Sleeve Overpass integrates complex urban functions and spatial structures via simple yet elegant municipal design elements. Located on Xuning Road in Suining County, Jiangsu Province, it spans the urban expressway cutting across the city and multiple water systems, linking the plaza in the county’s core area with the forest park on the opposite side of the road.

The main bridge stretches 635 meters, with a total construction length of 869 meters and a total floor area of 2,700 square meters. Four auxiliary bridges have a combined length of 242 meters. The deck width ranges from 2.5 meters to 9 meters, and the deck gradient varies between 0.4% and 12.6%. The vertical clearance beneath the Flying Cloud Water Sleeve Bridge above the road surface is guaranteed to be 4.5 meters.

Originally constructed to strengthen the connection between Harmony Square and Forest Square, the overpass reunites the two major urban open spaces separated by the Xuning Road expressway. It eliminates conflicts between motor vehicles and pedestrians at ground level and ensures safe passage for foot traffic.

While fulfilling practical functional requirements, the design centers closely on the core theme of "water", drawing inspiration from the fluid, graceful contours of dancing water sleeves. Its sinuous undulations across three-dimensional space deliver an aesthetic reminiscent of flowing clouds and running water. Furthermore, sophisticated lighting design allows this cloud-like water sleeve structure to sweep gracefully above urban plazas, water bodies and woodland areas after dark.