橘子洲大桥尘封半个世纪的档案唤醒城市记忆，15条过江通道见证长沙巨变

Core Points - The Orange Isle Bridge in Changsha has undergone quality upgrades and was unveiled to the public on April 30, 2023, marking its 50th anniversary since completion [2] - The bridge, originally completed in 1972, transformed transportation across the Xiang River, ending reliance on ferries and facilitating connections between Changsha and surrounding regions [3][4] - The construction of the bridge involved significant community effort, with over 800,000 volunteers contributing to its completion in just one year [7] Historical Context - The Orange Isle Bridge, also known as the Changsha Xiangjiang Bridge, was built to address the limited transportation options across the Xiang River, which previously relied on ferries that faced capacity and weather-related challenges [4][6] - The bridge was constructed with a budget of 20 million yuan, with 18 million yuan allocated for practical engineering costs, and the savings were used for additional infrastructure projects along the river [5][6] Development Impact - Since its opening, the Orange Isle Bridge has become one of the busiest crossings in Changsha, with peak traffic exceeding 6,000 vehicles per hour, compared to the original design capacity of 5,000 vehicles per day [9] - The bridge has played a crucial role in the urban development of Changsha, facilitating the integration of the eastern and western parts of the city and contributing to a balanced urban growth strategy [9]