Shanxi-Inner Mongolia autonomous region Bridge soars above the Yellow River. [Photo/Shanxi Daily]

There was excitement and elation as the Shanxi-Inner Mongolia autonomous region Bridge was opened to traffic on Oct 29 following over three years of construction, according to local officials. 

A key structure that connects Inner Mongolia to the Shanxi highway network -- the bridge starts from Hequ county in Shanxi, connecting the end of the Shenchi-Hequ Highway and crosses the Yellow River to Jungar Banner in Ordos in Inner Mongolia, extending 4.87 kilometers. 

Built by Xinzhou North Highway Co, a unit of Shanxi Transportation Holdings Group, the bridge has six lanes each in both directions. 

It cost 1.09 billion yuan ($150 million) and a features shock transmission unit in the design, which improves the seismic resistance of the bridge. 

Officials said the bridge breaks the natural barrier between Shanxi and Inner Mongolia and connects highway networks in both regions. 

This will have a positive impact on their economic and cultural communications, regional cooperation, coal transportation and tourism development, according to Ding Jixi, director of the construction project. 

The opening of the bridge to traffic also marked completion of the Lingqiu-Hequ Highway, which runs from Lingqiu county in Datong city to Hequ county in Xinzhou city. 

To date, 25 provincial highway exits have been constructed, connecting neighboring provinces among all 33 exits in the highway network for Shanxi province.