Bridges represent a feat of human engineering. They are majestic structures that can be made of concrete, steel, wood, iron, plastic, and stone.
Bridges allow people to span physical obstacles such as bodies of water, valleys, or other roadways.
This article will introduce the 10 longest railway and road bridges in the world.
- 1. Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge
- 2. Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct
- 3. Cangde Grand Bridge
- 4. Tianjin Grand Bridge
- 5. Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge
- 6. Bang Na Expressway
- 7. Beijing Grand Bridge
- 8. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
- 9. Line 1, Wuhan Metro Bridge
- 10. Manchac Swamp Bridge
1. Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge
Finally, the longest bridge in the world is the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge measuring 164,800 in length. This 2010 build was another addition to the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, located between Shanghai and Nanjing.
The construction of this breathtaking structure took four years, 10,000 workers, and 8.5 million dollars to complete. Due to its length, this bridge passes through five cities; Danyang, Changzhou, Wuxi, Suzhou, and ending in Kunshan
This bridge runs parallel to the Yangtze River, in the Yangtze River Delta. This delta is characterized by a number of canals, lakes, and rivers. As such, the Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge has improved and simplified transportation for residents in this region.
2. Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct
No. 2 is the Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct, part of the Taiwan High-Speed Railway. This structure was completed in 2004 with a total length of 157,317 meters.
In the first eight years after the bridge’s construction, over 200 million passengers had used the Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct.
3. Cangde Grand Bridge
No. 4 is the Cangde Grand Bridge with a length of 115,900 meters and completed in 2010. This is a part of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway.
Due to its location, this bridge was specially designed with the strength to withstand the pressure of earthquakes.
4. Tianjin Grand Bridge
No. 3 on the list of longest bridges in the world is the Tianjin Grand Bridge in China. This bridge was completed in 2010 with a total length of 113,700 meters. This bridge is another portion of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway that connects Langfang and Quingxian.
This bridge was designed with an elevated track in order to shorten the duration of construction, as well as minimize the amount of land required for the railway.
5. Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge
No. 5 on our list is the Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge located in China. This high-speed rail bridge is part of the Zhengzhou–Xi'an railway connecting Zhengzhou and Xi'an.
The length of the bridge totals 79,732 meter and passes over rivers, highways and railways. At the time of its construction in 2008, this was the longest bridge in the world, but has since been surpassed for that record.
6. Bang Na Expressway
No. 6 is the Bang Na Expressway, also known as Bang Pakong Express or Burapha Withi Expressway, located in Thailand. This bridge was finished constructed in 2000, requiring a total of 1,800,000 cubic meters of concrete to complete.
This bridge spans a total length of 54,000 meters, including a six lane toll road that runs about National Highway Route 34.
7. Beijing Grand Bridge
No. 7 is the Beijing Grand Bridge in China which spans 48,153 meters.
This bridge is part of a high-speed rail transportation system between Beijing-Shanghai. The construction finished in 2010, and the bridge was open for public use in 2011.
It now serves as a convenient and efficient mode of transportation for both commuters and tourists.
8. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
No. 8 on the list of longest bridges in the world is Lake Pontchartrain Causeway located in Louisiana, USA. This bridge is the oldest on our list and has been reported by the Guinness World Records as the longest bridge over water since 1969.
In 2011, in response to the opening of the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China, Guinness World Records split the longest bridge over water into two categories; ‘longest bridge over water (continuous)’, which is the title of the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway; and ‘longest bridge over water (aggregate)’, which is the title of the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge.
With a total length of 38,442 meters, and a total construction cost of approximately 76 million dollars, this bridge has certainly stood the test of time.
9. Line 1, Wuhan Metro Bridge
No. 9 is Line 1 of the Wuhan City Metro Bridge located in Wuhan, Hubei.
Line 1 is currently the longest bridge that is part of a city metro system. It is also significant to China, as it was part of the fifth metro system on the mainland, becoming active in 2004.
10. Manchac Swamp Bridge
No. 10 on our list is Manchac Swamp Bridge. This bridge is one of the longest bridges over water, spanning 36,710 meters.
This bridge is also one of the longest bridges on the Interstate Highway System, carrying Interstate 55 and U.S. Route 51 over the Manchac Swamp in Louisiana.
This is the longest toll-free bridge in the world, representing one-third of the total highway length in Louisiana.