The longest bridges in the world are incredible engineering masterpieces. It is impossible to quantify their importance in facilitating the transportation of goods and services. They also open up places that normally could not be accessed due to large masses of water or bad terrain, leading to booming economic activities.
Longest Bridges in the World
Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge China
It is the longest bridge in the world, stretching 164.8 km. The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge connects Shanghai and Nanjing in the Jiangsu province. Unveiled on 30th June 2011, it carries the high-speed railway across the Yangtze River delta.
The bridge towers 30 meters high, providing excellent views of lowland rice paddies, rivers, and lakes. More than 10,000 people participated in its construction, which took four years, costing between $8.5 billion and $10B.
Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct, Taiwan
Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct, Taiwan, is the second longest bridge in the world, stretching 157.3 km, and is part of the country’s high-speed railway. It is designed to resist seismic activity during earthquakes, given the country’s position near two tectonic plates.
The bridge design allows trains to stop safely in case of seismic events. Likewise, its design allows for easy repairs after an earthquake.
Cangde Grand Bridge, China
Cangde Grand Bridge is one of the longest bridges in the world, stretching 116km and made up of 3,092 piers. The bridge is part of the Beijing Shanghai High-speed railway. Like Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct, it was also designed to withstand seismic activities leading to earthquakes.
The part of the bridge that carries the railway line trims the travel time between Hong Kong, Macau, and Mainland China from three hours to 30 minutes.
Tianjin Grand Bridge, China
It is the fourth longest bridge in the world, stretching 113km. Like the other two bridges, it is part of the country’s extensive high-speed rail zooming through the economic zones of Langfang and Qingxian. Opened in 2011, the bridge skims through low-lying areas, water, and other obstacles.
The bridge is supported by reinforced girders, weighing about 780 metric tons.
The Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge, China
Part of the Zhengzhou-Xi’an High-Speed Railway, it is the fifth-largest bridge in the world at approximately 79 kilometers. When it was opened in 2008, it was the longest bridge in the world. It stands out because its crosses the Wei River twice.
Constructed by more than 10,000 workers, the bridge required more than 2.3 million cubic concrete and 45,000 tons of steel.
Bang Na Expressway, Thailand
Bang Na Expressway is the world’s longest road bridge stretching 55 km. Constructed in 2000, it is a six-lane elevated express highway that only crosses a bit of water on the Bang Patong River. It was built at the cost of about $1 billion. Its highway-over-highway design makes it a unique piece of engineering.
Beijing Grand Bridge, China
Stretching 48km, the bridge connects the two economic hubs of Beijing and Shanghai. It is also part of China’s high-speed railway and was completed in 2010. The bridge was constructed to connect the Yangtze River Delta and the Bohai Economic Rim. The two zones are best known for their agricultural produce and natural resources that need immediate export, thus a reliable transport network.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, United States
It is the longest bridge in the US, stretching 39 kilometers. Unlike the other bridges, it comprises two parallel bridges of nearly the same length. The first one was opened in 1956, and the other in 1969. It is accredited as the longest bridge over water as people cannot see land on either side of the bridge.
Line 1 Wuhan Metro, China
Line 1 Wuhan Metro, China, holds the record as the longest continuous metro viaduct stretching 38km. It is not a bridge but a continuous metro system that carries an elevated light rail line through Wuhan.
Manchac Swamp Bridge, United States
Manchac Swamp Bridge sums up the top ten longest bridges in the world at almost 37km. It is one of the longest bridges in the world built over water and one of the longest interstate highways in the US. It also extends over a supposedly haunted swamp.
Bottom Line
The longest bridges in the world play a critical role in connecting distant points separated by water marshland or difficult trains. They come in different sizes, designs, and lengths to enhance travel and transportation.
