The second half of the century-old Waibaidu Bridge in Shanghai was moved on Monday, and the entire bridge will soon undergo a face-lift, project officials said.

The bridge will be restored to its original design and appearance by March 1 next year after nine months of repairs.

Following the move of the first half on Sunday, the second half of the bridge was transported yesterday on a barge to the Shanghai Shipyard.

The bridge was built in 1907 and remains one of the most outstanding heritage landmarks of the city.

Engineers will start to check and repair the truss structure unit by unit over the next few months.

The nearby Wusong Floodgate Bridge will also be demolished when a gigantic vehicle tunnel comes into use. The bridge piers will be reconstructed.

The 3.3-kilometer tunnel, linking Hongkou District with Huangpu District, will be a two-level passage intended to alleviate traffic congestion around the Bund area.

(Shanghai Daily April 8, 2008)