HEFEI -- China's first double-deck cable-stayed suspension bridge -- the Tongling Yangtze River Third Bridge -- opened to traffic on Thursday in Tongling city, East China's Anhui province.

As the 11th bridge over the Yangtze River in Anhui province, the project integrates expressways, intercity railways and freight lines, while also supporting intermodal transport between rail and water. On Thursday, the road section on the bridge was put into operation first, spanning 11.9 kilometers.

The bridge is expected to further improve the comprehensive transportation system in the Yangtze River Delta region and inject new impetus into regional economic development.

The bridge was designed and built with extremely high ecological standards, as it passes through the Tongling River Dolphin National Nature Reserve and a protected drinking water source area.