The project began at 10:30 p.m. local time [on Friday] with the main structure of the overpass being demolished by the end of the night, state broadcaster CCTV reported. With car ownership on the rise, the 24-year-old two-lane overpass could no longer sustain the amount of traffic travelling on it CCTV added, so local officials decided it was time to tear it down. The overpass also needed to be demolished to help make way for a subway system, CCTV said, without giving further details. The demolition and clearing project was scheduled to be completed within 56 hours, so the area could be reopened to the public on Monday morning.
This is not the first time Chinese construction crews have moved so rapidly. The state removed another bridge that was over 30 years old last November, replacing it in a mere 43 hours with a wider, pre-built one.
As China builds entirely new cities and puts hundreds of billions of dollars into creating metro systems, it's imperative for the country to have these efficient construction and demolition practices to keep up with the pace of development.