In　China,　rapid　and　continuing　infrastructure　growth　will　significantly　affect　the　feasibility　of　achieving　CO2　emission　reduction　targets.　It　is　uncertain　whether　the　current　infrastructure　designs　are　consistent　with　the　national　emission　targets　of　China,　consequently　posing　a　threat　to　the　national　commitment　to　reaching　carbon　neutrality.　To　illustrate　the　gap　in　achieving　the　emission　targets　with　respect　to　bridges,　we　present　carbon　intensity　reduction　targets　relevant　to　bridges　by　2040.　By　exploring　three　policy-economic　scenarios　that　combine　with　CO2　emission　reduction　policy　scenarios　of　the　International　Energy　Agency　and　shared　socioeconomic　pathways,　we　assess　the　adaptability　of　the　bridge　designs　to　short-,　medium-　and　long-term　carbon　intensity　targets.　We　propose　a　new　sustainability　design　approach　based　on　a　bridge　big　data　set　that　integrates　reliability,　environmental　impacts,　and　cost.　We　show　that,　under　the　current　policy-economic　scenario,　more　than　50%　of　code-based　bridges　would　meet　the　five-year　CO2　emission　target,　whereas　only　one　in　ten　thousand　could　meet　the　ten-year　target　under　the　new　policy-economic　scenario.　Under　the　sustainable　development　policy-economic　scenario,　none　of　the　bridge　designs　would　meet　the　carbon　reduction　targets　over　the　next　20　years.　Our　findings　highlight　that　the　bridges　in　China　need　to　be　duly　considered　in　setting　CO2　reduction　targets,　and　in　the　national　move　toward　zero　carbon,　careful　consideration　should　be　given　to　implementing　our　proposed　bridge　sustainability　design.