Bridges, the unsung heroes of urban connectivity, serve as vital conduits that unite cities and facilitate the seamless flow of people, goods, and services. Regrettably, their contributions often go unnoticed, overshadowed by other grandeur endeavours.
Many have pondered the notion of constructing a bridge connecting England to mainland Europe, an engineering marvel that would span a staggering 35 kilometres. This ambitious endeavour would render it the lengthiest bridge in Europe, eclipsing even Portugal's Vasco da Gama Bridge, which spans a mere 17 kilometres. Yet, when considering the global panorama, this monumental project fails to secure a spot among the top 10 longest bridges.
The longest bridge in the world is the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge in China.
List of 10 Longest Bridges In The World
In a comprehensive breakdown of the world's most remarkable bridges, we present to you the "Top 10 Longest Bridges in the World". This list encompasses various types of bridges, including metropolitan marvels, transcending the boundaries of conventional categorisation.
| Bridge Name | Architect/Designer | Year Completed | Length (km) | Location |
| Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge | China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) | 2010 | 164.8 | Between Shanghai and Nanjing, Jiangsu Province, China |
| Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct | Taiwan High-Speed Rail Corp. (THSRC) with Toshiba, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi | 2007 | 157.3 | Taiwan |
| Tianjin Grand Bridge | China Railway Group Limited | 2011 | 113.7 | Between Langfang and Qingxian, China |
| Cangde Grand Bridge | China Railways Group Limited (CREC) | 2010 | 105.81 | Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, China |
| Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge | China Railway Group Limited (CREC) | 2008 | 79.732 | China |
| Bang Na Expressway | Louis Berger | 2000 | 54 | Thailand |
| Beijing Grand Bridge | China Railway Group Limited (CREC) | 2010 | 48.2 | Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, China |
| Lake Pontchartrain Causeway | Hoffman & Henon; Walter J. Keller, Inc. | 1956 (North), 1969 (South) | 38.4 / 38.7 | Louisiana, USA |
| Wuhan Metro Bridge | CREC and CSCEC | 2004 | 37.788 | Wuhan, China |
| Metro Manila Skyway System | C.P. Yang Construction and Development Corp. | 2002–2015 (Phased) | 32 | Metro Manila, Philippines |
ALSO READ| List of 10 Most Dangerous Drones In the World with All Details
Largest Bridges In The World
Here's the list of the top 10 largest bridges in the world.
1. Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge: 164.80 Km
- Length: 164.8 km
- Completed: 2010
- Type: High-speed rail
- Country: China
The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge reigns as the world's longest bridge, stretching an astounding 164.8 kilometres. This marvel is an integral part of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway and boasts an awe-inspiring construction cost of approximately $8.5 billion, equating to $51 million per mile.
Designed to withstand seismic activity, extreme weather conditions, and even a collision from a 300,000-tonne naval vessel, it exemplifies engineering prowess.
2. Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct: 157.30 Km
- Length: 157.3 km
- Completed: 2004
- Type: High-speed rail
- Country: Taiwan
The Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct, Taiwan's pride, secures the second position among the world's longest bridges. Serving as a vital component of the Taiwan High-Speed Rail network, this 157.3-kilometre structure has transported over 200 million passengers since its completion in 2004. Engineered for earthquake resistance, it remains resilient, ensuring passenger safety during seismic events.
3. Tianjin Grand Bridge: 113.7 Km
- Length: 113.7 km
- Completed: 2010
- Type: High-speed rail
- Country: China
The Tianjin Grand Bridge, also known as the Langfang–Qingxian Viaduct, extends over a staggering 113.7 kilometres. An essential link within the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, this bridge was finalised in 2010 and opened its gates to rail traffic in 2011.
Elegantly designed to reduce the need for numerous individual road and railway crossings, it minimises land usage while showcasing 32-metre-long box girders, each weighing 860 tonnes.
ALSO READ| 7 Of The Most Expensive Cat Breeds In The World
4. Cangde Grand Bridge: 105.881 Km
- Length: 105.881 km
- Completed: 2010
- Type: High-speed rail
- Country: China
China's Cangde Grand Bridge claims the fourth position on our list of epic bridges. Part of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, this bridge, completed in 2010, stands as the third-longest along this railway corridor. Engineered to withstand seismic activity, it spans an impressive 105.881 kilometres, supported by a remarkable 3092 piers.
5. Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge: 79.732 Km
- Length: 79.732 km
- Completed: 2008
- Type: High-speed rail
- Country: China
The Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge, a significant segment of the Zhengzhou–Xi'an High-Speed Railway in China, commands attention as the fifth longest bridge globally. Covering an extensive 79.732 kilometres, it gracefully traverses the Wei River twice and numerous other waterways, highways, and railways. Originally the world's longest bridge upon completion in 2008, it now yields that title to new bridges on the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway.
6. Bang Na Expressway: 54 Km
- Length: 54 km
- Completed: 2000
- Type: Expressway
- Country: Thailand
The Bang Na Expressway, officially the Burapha Withi Expressway, stands as a testament to engineering prowess in Thailand. Stretching across 54 kilometres, this six-lane elevated highway, completed in January 2000, hovers above National Highway Route 34.
A testament to international collaboration, it required a staggering 1,800,000 cubic metres of concrete to come to life and held the title of the world's longest bridge from 2000 until 2008.
ALSO READ| Know the Top 25 Most Expensive Cities for Expats in 2023
7. Beijing Grand Bridge: 48.2 Km
- Length: 48.153 km
- Completed: 2010
- Type: High-speed rail
- Country: China
The Beijing Grand Bridge, a railway viaduct, is the first of several remarkable bridges within the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway network. Remarkably, China boasts a staggering 961,100 road bridges as of 2021, a testament to the nation's infrastructure prowess.
8. Metro Manila Skyway System: 32 Km
- 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 primary expressway in Metro Manila, Philippines. This elevated highway, spanning approximately 39.2 kilometres, facilitates vital connections between the North and South Luzon Expressways, with access to Ninoy Aquino International Airport via the NAIA Expressway.
9. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway: 38.4 Km (Northern), 38.7 Km (Southern)
- Length: 38.442 km
- Completed: 1956
- Type: Highway
- Country: United States
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, affectionately known as 'The Causeway,' has graced Louisiana since its opening in 1956. Comprising parallel twin bridges, it is notorious for its spine-tingling views, where the land disappears when traversing its middle section. Supported by 9,500 concrete pilings, this engineering marvel features a bascule, spanning the navigation channel.
ALSO READ| Top 10 Richest Actors In The World
10. Wuhan Metro Bridge: 37.788 Km
- Length: 37.788 km
- Completed: 2009
- Type: Metro
- Country: China
The Wuhan Metro Bridge, part of Wuhan's elevated metro line, earns its distinction as the world's longest continuous metro viaduct. Wuhan became the fifth mainland Chinese city to boast a metro system upon the opening of Line 1 in 2004.
This elevated metro line, though referred to as a light rail line in Chinese terminology, stands as an engineering marvel, significantly enhancing Wuhan's urban connectivity. Originally planned to cross the Yangtze via the Second Wuhan Yangtze River Bridge, it underwent revisions during the bridge's renovation.
ALSO READ| Top 10 Pearl Producing Countries: Know Where India Stands
Comments
All Comments (0)
Join the conversation