The main steel pier platform of the Changhai cross-sea bridge in Dalian, Liaoning province, achieved linkage on Thursday, marking a major step in the construction of the largest cross-sea bridge in Northeast China.

The steel trestle of the main pier platform measures 400 meters long and nine meters wide. It will provide safe and efficient support for material transportation and machinery passage during construction and lay a solid foundation for the subsequent full-scale construction.

The Changhai Bridge is being constructed with a total investment of 7.9 billion yuan ($1.1 billion). It spans 25.5 kilometers, with a 19-km sea segment and a 6.5-km land segment, and features four-lane roadways in both directions.

Located in the northern Yellow Sea, the bridge will connect Pikou sub-district of Dalian's Pulandian district with Dachangshan Island of Changhai county, the only island-border county in China.

Jin Kunyu and Yu Runhao contributed to this story.