A 3,026-metre road bridge across the Yalu River linking China and North Korea is set to open on Thursday, according to reports published in Nepal. Construction of the bridge was completed in 2014, but the crossing is only now being brought into operation, marking the long-delayed opening of a road link between the neighbouring countries.
A long wait after construction
The bridge’s completion in 2014 did not lead to its immediate use. It has remained out of operation for 12 years, with Thursday’s planned opening set to bring the project into service after that extended delay. The reports describe the crossing as a road bridge connecting China and North Korea over the Yalu River.
The gap between construction and operation is the central feature of the announcement. While the physical structure was completed years ago, it is only now being opened for use. The available reports do not provide further details about the reasons for the delay or the steps that led to the decision to bring the bridge into operation.
What is known about the opening
The reported opening is scheduled for Thursday, but the reports cited here do not specify a calendar date or provide details about an opening ceremony. They also do not say when vehicles will begin crossing, what categories of traffic will be permitted, or whether the bridge will initially serve a particular type of transport.
The announcement therefore establishes the expected start of operations, rather than a detailed account of how the crossing will be used. The available information identifies the bridge’s length, its route across the Yalu River, its connection between China and North Korea, and the long interval since construction was completed.
A new road link between the two countries
The opening will put into operation a road connection between the two countries that has been completed but unused for 12 years. The bridge’s 3,026-metre span makes it a substantial piece of cross-river infrastructure, although the reports do not outline its capacity or the volume of traffic it is expected to carry.
The Ratopati report and Pradesh Khabar report both describe the bridge as due to open on Thursday. Further operational details, including access arrangements and the type of traffic allowed, were not included in the information available in those reports.
