There are many bridges in the world. Each of them serves to connect two points on land when a river or any other obstacle is in the way. Some bridges are modern, and others are ancient. In this article, we will talk about the longest bridge in the world and its most interesting facts.
The longest bridge in the world was built in China, a country famous for having massive structures. The bridge has arches that stretch over water and is called the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge. It is also known as the Danyang-Kunshan Expressway Bridge. The bridge crosses Lake Tai in Jiangsu Province, China. It was open to the public in the year 2011.
The bridge measures 102 miles long. It is almost two miles (3 km) longer than Japan's Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which used to be considered the longest bridge in the world before 2010.
Interesting facts about Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge
At a length of 102 miles, it is more than six times longer than the Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, which was once thought to be the longest in the world at 6.5 miles. It spans the Yangtze River, the longest river in Asia and the third-longest in the world.
Compared to other bridges around the world, it is enormous, but its height is relatively short compared to other bridges worldwide. The bridge is not very well known outside of China because it does not cross a significant waterway or connect major cities but mainly connects Danyang with Kunshan with a highway running through the entire length of the bridge.
Since its opening in 2011, this massive and longest river bridge in the world has been quite controversial because of its hefty price tag of $8.5 billion and its appearance. Many people believe it should have been constructed differently to better blend into the surrounding environment.
Essential Facts about the longest bridge in the world
The cable-stayed structure consists of three main spans supported by towers spaced slightly over half a mile apart. The centre span is 2,585 meters (9,500 feet) long, while the side spans are 1,710 meters (5,600 feet). The towers are 192 meters tall and were built using more than 37,000 tons of steel. The total weight of the structure amounts to approximately 573 million pounds.
The bridge is located between the cities of Nanjing and Shanghai. It is considered one of the most important railway construction projects in China's history. It was designed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation, and this bridge has been constructed to withstand strong winds and typhoons that frequently happen on rivers.
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There are no tolls for crossing this bridge over water, but you will pay a toll if you travel on land. The cost of using the road next to the bridge is approximately USD 13 round trip. Due to its immense length, it is also called the "longest railway bridge in the world" or "longest sea bridge in the world". It cost around $1.3 billion to construct this bridge that connects two major metropolitan cities, i.e. Danyang and Kunshan, via an artificial island called Hengsha Island.
List of Longest Bridge in the World
Here is a tabular representation of the longest bridge in the world list:
Name of the Bridge | Country | Length of the Bridge (m) | Height of the bridge (Ft) |
Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge | China | 164,800 | 540,700 |
Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct | Taiwan | 157,317 | 316,312 |
Kita-Yaita Viaduct Tohoku Shinkansen | Japan | 114,424 | 375,407 |
Tianjin Grand Bridge | China | 113,700 | 373,000 |
Cangde Grand Bridge | China | 115,900 | 380,200 |
Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge | China | 79,732 | 261,588 |
Bang Na Expressway | Thailand | 54,000 | 177,000 |
Beijing Grand Bridge | China | 48,153 | 157,982 |
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway | USA | 38,442 | 126,122 |
Wuhan Metro Bridge | China | 37,788 | 123,976 |
People are amazed by the most beautiful bridges in the world. In this article, you will know the world's ten longest bridges with their lengths. Taking almost four years to complete and costing 8.5 billion USD, this was one impressive undertaking. We can only wonder how hard it must be to maintain! As you drive across the bridge, take a snapshot of this fantastic piece of architecture.
FAQs about Longest Bridge in the World
Which is the longest bridge in the world?
The longest bridge in the world is the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge.
What is the cost of the longest road bridge in the world?
The cost of the longest bridge, the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, is 8.5 billion dollars.
How long did it take to construct Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge?
It took approximately four years to complete the construction of the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge.
Which is the Second Longest bridge in the world?
Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct Bridge is the Second Longest Bridget in the World