THE first modern highway bridge　across the Tsang Po River in Tibet　was　recently　opened　 to traffic. Named the Chushul-Tsangpo Bridge, this permanent concrete structure more than 730 metres long is of great importance to the acceleration of Tibet's political, economic and cultural　 development　 and　 the strengthening of unity between the various nationalities of the area.

Building started on February 20 this year, and was completed in 130 days. Good quality of construction was combined with fast, low cost work.

The first design for the bridge, a large-span steel structure, was proposed last November by some bourgeois "specialists" and "authorities." Calling for massive steel supports and high abutments and piers it would have taken two years to build and an investment of 15 million yuan. When they considered it both Tibetan and Han workers and most of the designers were against this design.　 Such a bridge, they said, did not conform to the needs of the Tibetan people and furthermore it was not in accord with the general line's spirit of "achieving greater, faster, better and more economical results" in building socialism.

A surveying and designing team of veteran workers and young designers was then organized. Bringing with them Chairman Mao's "On Practice"　and "On Contradiction," they studied earth conditions on the spot, interviewed boatmen and old residents of the area to get the necessary data for a bridge of the required design. They finally produced plans which conformed to actual conditions in Tibet and to the spirit of the general line.

(This article appears on page 39, No. 42, 1966)