2025 Footbridge Innovation: Smart Technology Driving Three-dimensional Transportation Upgrade

In 2025, the global urban infrastructure field ushers in a breakthrough, and the footbridge industry is transforming from a traditional transportation facility to an intelligent and ecological urban vertical hub through technological innovation and process upgrading.The benchmark projects represented by Guangzhou Nansha Juxing Bridge and Zhaoqing Sihui Tianguang Market Aluminum Alloy Flyover Bridge signify that the industry has entered a new stage of "technology-driven + scene integration"

At the technical level, BIM (Building Information Modeling) and modular construction have become the core engine.Guangzhou Nansha Juxing Bridge, the world's first three-limbed steel box arch structure flyover, realizes full life cycle management through BIM technology, with millimeter-level construction accuracy, while adopting a 155-meter mega-span, 1/21 ultra-tan yagami span ratio design to connect the three sides of the river in the shortest distance, and was awarded the "Arthur Haydn Prize" by the International Bridge Conference.117 Zhaoqing Sihui Tianguangxui Flyover Bridge, on the other hand, is a benchmark project that marks the industry's entry into the "technology-driven + scenario integration" stage.Zhaoqing Sihui Tian Guang Hui Flyover Bridge set a new volume record in South China with an all-aluminum alloy truss structure, adopting a factory prefabrication + on-site assembly process to shorten the construction cycle by 40%, with a material recycling rate of more than 90%, in line with the requirements of low carbon and environmental protection34.

The popularization of intelligent monitoring systems enhances safety and management efficiency. Xining City's Chengbei District's Yanzhuang Huangshui Road Flyover was retrofitted with an AI car-stopping system that uses visual recognition to distinguish between electric cars and wheelchairs. The system automatically triggers an alarm and suspends elevator operation to eliminate fire safety hazards at the source. In Kunshan City, a pilot collision alarm system integrates the Internet of Things and big data analysis for real-time monitoring of the flyover's displacement and vibration. Once overrun is detected, multi-terminal early warning significantly reduces the risk of vehicular collision.The Longdengli flyover in Hanyang District has a "sensor + camera" intelligent monitoring network that upgrades traditional manual inspection to 24-hour cloud-based management and improves maintenance efficiency by 70%. This system has been implemented in several Chinese cities, including Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou.

The deep integration of policy support and smart city concepts is driving the industry to expand into multifunctional scenarios. Urumqi City plans to pilot installing elevators on flyovers in the city center and synchronize access to the "one-network unified management" platform. This will enable barrier-free access and real-time operation and maintenance. Shishi City received a provincial subsidy of 10 million yuan to begin construction on a 1.79-square-kilometer model area with accessibility facilities. The project will cover 57 tasks, including blind-channel reconstruction and low-level service windows. The goal is to create a "universally friendly" access environment, which will help the industry achieve the same.Shishi City received a provincial subsidy of 10 million RMB to start construction on a 1.79 km² barrier-free zone covering 57 tasks, such as blind alleyway renovations and low-level service windows, to create a "universally accessible" walking environment. Luogang District's new flyover innovates the "smart industry + urban ecology" model by displaying the city's culture on an LED screen, organically unifying transportation function and landscape aesthetics.

This series of innovations improves the efficiency of urban transportation and reconstructs the relationship between people and space. Just as the Double Helix Bridge in Singapore transformed a flyover into a city landmark inspired by the structure of DNA,¹² the 2025 flyover is becoming the "capillary" of the smart city. It connects the future cityscape of safety, convenience, and sustainability through technological empowerment and humanistic care.