I can’t pass a bridge without peeking my head out of the car’s window and seeing what lies around and beneath it, or at least end up capturing it. Built on the outskirts of any city, town, or region with beautiful landscapes around, a water body beneath a bridge is certainly a pleasing sight to any eye. What makes them more remarkable is the significance of communication and the union they represent. Bridges are frequently viewed as the link between God and man, the entrance to reality, or simply as a metaphor for travel and crossing. They are incredible pieces of architecture and require a lot of precision in making. You may have come across many bridges, but are you aware of the longest bridges in the world?
Do you know that there is a 164 km bridge out there in the world? Imagine passing a 164 km bridge and enjoying the scenery for more than mere minutes. Similarly, many of such longest bridges in the world are hard to imagine rather than construct. To entertain your amusement, we bring you the 5 longest bridges in the world and the unique facts around them.
The 5 longest bridges in the world
1. The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, China
Length: 104 miles
Connects: Shanghai and Nanjing, Jiangsu province, China
At 104 miles long, the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China presently leads the list of the longest bridges in the world. In 2010, this bridge was completed, and it was inaugurated in 2011. It carries the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway across the Yangtze River delta, from Danyang to Kunshan, between Shanghai and Nanjing in the Jiangsu province. Over 10,000 workers worked on the bridge over four years, for $8.5 to $10 billion. The Bridge survived not only seismic activity but also severe weather (such as typhoons) and even a direct impact from a naval ship weighing 300,000 tonnes.
Unique Fact: This bridge is situated in a breathtaking environment that includes lowland rice paddies, canals, rivers, and lakes. It enhances or complements the natural landscapes in the surrounding which results in a train experience that nobody ever forgets.
2. Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct, China
Length: 98 miles
Connects: Baguashan, Changhua County and Zuoying, Kaohsiung, Taiwan
The Taiwan High-Speed Railway’s Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct, which tops second in the list of the longest bridges in the world, was completed in 2007. From Banguashan in Changhua to Zuoying in Kaohsiung, it travels nearly 98 miles as a component of the Taiwan High-Speed Rail network. Because of Taiwan’s location close to the meeting point of two tectonic plates, the country is seismically active, hence the bridge was constructed to withstand earthquakes.
Unique fact: This bridge is one of several bridges built to withstand earthquakes, which contributes to its distinctiveness. It permits trains to stop during earthquake events in a secure manner. The structure of the viaduct limits damage to specific areas so that it may be readily rebuilt following an earthquake.
3. Tianjin Grand Bridge, China
Length: 70.6 miles
Connects: Langfang and Qingxia, Beijing, China
The Tianjin Grand Bridge is another bridge that is a part of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. It was finished in 2010 and opened in 2011 and the length of this railroad viaduct is just over 70 miles. The 32 different parts of the viaduct, which transports high-speed trains over densely populated areas, were each built and erected independently. After four years of work, the bridge’s construction was completed in 2010.
Unique fact: Although it may not be the most attractive bridge on the list, this one has a distinctive structure. It comprises several 860-tonne box girders that are over 100 feet long. The girders were produced in two locations along the bridge’s route, transported to the installation location, and then set on piers using a specialized crane. During construction, lifts resembling those provided by BridgeMasters were used.
4. Cangde Grand Bridge, China
Length: 66 miles
Connects: On the route between Beijing and Shanghai, China
The Cangde Grande Bridge is a component of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, just like the Tianjin Grand Bridge. It was constructed using 3,092 piers to withstand seismic activity, such as earthquakes.
Unique fact: The railway line’s network of bridges reduces the distance between Hong Kong, Macau, and mainland China from three hours to just thirty minutes.
5. The Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge, China
Length: 49.543 miles
Connects: Zhengzhou and Xi’an, Weinan, China
The Weinan Weihe Grande Bridge, which is a section of the Zhengzhou-Xi’an High-Speed Railway, crosses the Wei River, China’s “natural gateway to the west.” It is unusual since it crosses multiple rivers, including the Ling, Luofu, Xi, and Shi Di, as well as the Wei River twice. After it was finished in 2008 and opened in 2010, it briefly topped the list of the longest bridges in the world. Although, other bridges built during the same period quickly surpassed it.
Unique Fact: This viaduct is a significant engineering achievement. Over 10,000 people were employed in its construction. Over 2.3 million cubic meters of concrete and 45,000 tonnes of steel were used in its construction.
This concludes the list of 5 longest bridges in the world and China is all over the list. The country owns the 5 longest bridges, which shows that it unarguably has the best architectural brains in the world. However, this is not the end of the list as there of plenty of beautifully constructed long bridges owned by the U.S.A and Thailand that are worth checking out.
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