(Xinhua)
Updated: 2008-04-07 17:26

SHANGHAI  - China's only camelback truss bridge, Waibaidu, known as "Grandma's Bridge" among Shanghai locals, had half of its span pulled onto a barge on Monday, destined for a shipyard and a thorough overhaul.

Built in 1907, the Waibaidu Bridge was the first steel truss bridge built in China and the only surviving example of camelback truss bridge in the country. Many movies depicting the dashing industrial boom in old Shanghai were shot here.

On Monday, the 52-meter northern half span of the bridge, weighing about 600 tonnes, was lifted up by 1.4 meters and moved onto the barge. The southern part had been removed in the same way on Sunday.

"The lifting movement was made by taking advantage of a high-tide on Suzhou Creek," explained Mao Anji, a manager overseeing the Bund Refurbishment Project in Shanghai.

The bridge's repair plan is aimed to preserve the original appearance of the weather-worn bridge, which is a part of efforts to restore the city's famed waterfront under the Bund Refurbishment Project.

"The bridge's steel portions were transported to shipyard to remove dust and repair damaged parts. The restored span will be reopened around March 2009," said Mao.

Traffic on the landmark bridge was closed on March 1, when workers started to remove electricity and cables that run through the bridge in preparations for the lift.

In preparation for the World Expo in 2010, Shanghai has budgeted 28.6 billion yuan (3.7 billion US dollars) to transform the city. Outdated steel factories are being relocated and shabby buildings dismantled.

The city, which now has 150,000 foreign residents and receives 6 million foreign tourists annually, is expected to host 70 million tourists by 2010.