Bridges, the unsung heroes of urban connectivity, serve as vital conduits that connect cities and facilitate the smooth flow of people, goods and services. Unfortunately, their contributions often go unnoticed, overshadowed by other magnificent endeavors.
Many thought about the idea of building a bridge that would connect England with mainland Europe, an engineering marvel that would stretch an incredible 35 kilometers. This ambitious undertaking would make it the longest bridge in Europe, eclipsing even Portugal’s Vasco da Gama Bridge, which spans just 17 kilometers. However, looking at the global panorama, this monumental project fails to secure a place among the 10 longest bridges.
The longest bridge in the world is the Great Danyang–Kunshan Bridge in China.
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List of 10 longest bridges in the world
In a comprehensive breakdown of the world’s most famous bridges, we present to you the “10 Longest Bridges in the World”. This list encompasses a wide variety of bridges, including metropolitan wonders, that transcend the boundaries of conventional categorization.
1. Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge – 164 KM (540,700 ft)2. Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct – 157 KM (516,132 ft)3. Tianjin Grand Bridge – 113 KM (373,000 ft)4. Cangde Grand Bridge – 105 KM (347,379 ft)5. Weinan Weihe Great Bridge – 79 KM (261,588 ft)6. Bang Na Expressway – 54 KM (177,000 feet)7. Beijing Great Bridge – 48 KM (157,982 ft)8. Metro Manila Skyway System – 39 KM (128,600 ft)9. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway – 38 KM (126,122 ft)10. Wuhan Metro Bridge – 37 KM (123,976 ft)
Determining the exact length of a bridge is not an easy task. Different methodologies, including measurements from entrance to exit ramps, shore to shore, or even considering the entire structure, give different results. Therefore, ranking bridges solely according to their length requires caution. Furthermore, these measurements are approximations, subject to variability due to unit conversions in the United States.
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The biggest bridges in the world
1. Danyang–Kunshan Great Bridge
Length: 164.8 km
Completed: 2010
Type: high-speed rail
Country: China
The Great Danyang-Kunshan Bridge reigns as the longest bridge in the world, spanning an incredible 164.8 kilometers. This marvel is an integral part of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway and boasts a staggering construction cost of approximately $8.5 billion, which equates to $51 million per mile. Designed to withstand seismic activity, extreme weather conditions and even a 300,000 ton ship collision, it is an example of engineering skill.
2. Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct
Length: 157.3 km
Completed: 2004
Type: high-speed rail
Country: Taiwan
The Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct, the pride of Taiwan, secures the second place among the longest bridges in the world. Serving as a vital component of Taiwan’s high-speed rail network, this 157.3 kilometer long structure has carried more than 200 million passengers since its completion in 2004. Designed for earthquake resistance, it remains resilient, ensuring passenger safety during seismic events.
3. Tianjin Grand Bridge
Length: 113.7 km
Completed: 2010
Type: high-speed rail
Country: China
The Great Tianjin Bridge, also known as the Langfang–Qingxian Viaduct, stretches an incredible 113.7 kilometers. An essential link within the Beijing–Shanghai high-speed railway, this bridge was completed in 2010 and opened its doors to rail traffic in 2011. Elegantly designed to reduce the need for numerous individual road and rail crossings, it minimizes land use while featuring 32-metre box girders, each weighing 860 tons.
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4. The Great Cangde Bridge
Length: 105,881 km
Completed: 2010
Type: high-speed rail
Country: China
China’s Cangde Great Bridge ranks fourth on our list of epic bridges. Part of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, this bridge, completed in 2010, is the third longest on this rail corridor. Constructed to withstand seismic activity, it stretches an impressive 105,881 kilometers and is supported by an extraordinary 3,092 pillars.
5. Weinan Weihe Great Bridge
Length: 79,732 km
Completed: 2008
Type: high-speed rail
Country: China
Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge, a significant segment of the Zhengzhou–Xi’an high-speed railway in China, attracts attention as the fifth longest bridge in the world. Covering a wide 79,732 kilometers, it gracefully crosses the Wei River twice and numerous other waterways, highways and railways. Originally the longest bridge in the world after its completion in 2008, it is now ceding that title to the new bridges on the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway.
6. Bang on the expressway
Length: 54 km
Completed: 2000
Type: expressway
Country: Thailand
The Bang Na Expressway, officially the Burapha Withi Expressway, is a testament to Thailand’s engineering prowess. Stretching for 54 kilometers, this six-lane highway, completed in January 2000, hovers above National Highway 34. As a testament to international cooperation, it took a staggering 1,800,000 cubic meters of concrete to bring it to life and held the title of World Road. the longest bridge from 2000 to 2008.
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7. Beijing Great Bridge
Length: 48,153 km
Completed: 2010
Type: high-speed rail
Country: China
The Beijing Grand Bridge, a railway viaduct, is the first of several outstanding bridges within the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail network. Incredibly, China boasts a whopping 961,100 road bridges as of 2021, a testament to the nation’s infrastructural prowess.
8. Metro Manila Skyway System
Length: 39.2 km
Completed: 2021
Type: expressway
Country: Philippines
The Metro Manila Skyway, known as the Metro Manila Skyway System (MMSS), serves as the main expressway in Metro Manila, Philippines. Spanning approximately 39.2 kilometers, this elevated highway facilitates vital connections between the highways of Northern and Southern Luzon, with access to the Ninoy Aquino International Airport via the NAIA Expressway.
9. Lake Ponchartrain Causeway
Length: 38,442 km
Completed: 1956
Type: Motorway
Country: United States of America
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, affectionately known as ‘The Causeway’, has graced Louisiana since its opening in 1956. Consisting of parallel twin bridges, it is notorious for its spine-tingling views, where land disappears when crossing its middle section. Supported by 9,500 concrete columns, this engineering marvel has a movable pier that spans the navigation channel.
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10. Wuhan Metro Bridge
Length: 37,788 KM
Completed: 2009
Type: Metro
Country: China
The Wuhan Subway Bridge, part of the elevated subway line in Wuhan, has earned the distinction of being the longest continuous subway viaduct in the world. Wuhan became the fifth city in mainland China to boast a metro system after the opening of Line 1 in 2004.
This elevated subway line, although called a light rail line in Chinese terminology, is an engineering marvel that significantly improves Wuhan’s urban connectivity. The Yangtze was originally planned to be crossed over the Second Yangtze River Bridge in Wuhan, but it underwent changes during the renovation of the bridge.
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Categories: Optical Illusion
Source: newstars.edu.vn