A bridge is mainly built to connect two areas over a body of water or a gorge. But with a little touch of architectural magic, it becomes more than that. In many cities, bridges have become some of the main tourist attractions, whether it’s for beauty or simply its length. That is why we came up with this list of the longest bridges in the world.
- Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, China
This completes the Beijing-Shanghai railway. This one is over 164 kilometers long (540,700 feet). Together, the four grand bridges span for more than 400 kilometers. When it was finished in 2010, it automatically became the longest bridge in the world. And it is still listed as one in Guinness Book of World Record. Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is parallel to the Yangtze River. This means you get to enjoy the view of canals and rice paddies while you’re on the bridge. And in one part, it crosses over the Yangcheng Lake for 9 kilometers. That is a sight you should not miss.
2. Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct, Taiwan
As you can see, most of these longest bridges in the world are found in China. But Taiwan is right up there for the challenge. This bridge connects Changhua and Kaohsiung via a high-speed railway. Millions and millions of passengers traversed this bridge.
It spans for 157,317 meters or 516,132 feet. And, it crosses over fault lines. However, the bridge was designed to allow trains to stop safely during earthquakes.
3. Tianjin Grand Bridge, China
Between Beijing Grand Bridge and Cangde Grand Bridge, there is the Tianjin Grand Bridge. And like its two sisters, this bridge also carries a high-speed train. Spanning over 113 kilometers (373,000 feet), you might be surprised that Tianjin Grand Bridge is only the second-longest in this project.
4. Cangde Grand Bridge, China
Like the Beijing Grand Bridge, this one also carries a high-speed railway connecting Beijing and Shanghai. This bridge is the first one on our list which is longer than 100 kilometers.
To make sure Cangde Grand Bridge is able to withstand earthquakes, they built more than three thousand piers. Like most of the bridges carrying the Beijing-Shanghai railway, Cangde was also finished in 2010.
5. Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge, China
When completed in 2008, Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge was the longest bridge in the world. But that title only lasts for a couple of years. Thanks to the megaproject of grand bridge construction in China. More than 10,000 workers built this bridge from concrete and steel.
It carries a high-speed railway connecting Zhengshou and Xi’an. It spans 79,732-meter long (380,200 feet) over Wei River and many others.
6. Bang Na Expressway, Thailand
This bridge was a massive project. A lot of names were involved in the building of Bang Na Expressway. Thailand Prime Minister, Sukavich Rangstpol, was behind this project. Louis Berger and Jean M. Muller both engineered and designed the structure.
Bang Na Expressway connects some of the most important regions in Thailand. It spans 54 kilometers. Since 2000, the bridge has been one of Thailand’s most important structures.
7. Beijing Grand Bridge, China
Carrying a high-speed railway, this bridge spans more than 48 kilometers (157,982 feet). Operational since 2010, the railway itself connects two of the biggest cities in China: Beijing and Shanghai.
Even though the railway goes all the way to Shanghai, Beijing Grand Bridge ends in Langfang. From there, the railway continues on another longest bridge in the world which you will also see on this list.
8. Line 1 Metro Wuhan
Covering a distance of about 38 kilometers , Wuhan metro line 1 totally passes 32 stations and takes around 75 minutes to finish a single trip. It connects Jinghe and Hankou North, passing Dongxihu, Qiaokou, Jianghan, Jiang’an and Huangpi Districts.
9. Jakarta Cikampek Elevated Highway
Jakarta–Cikampek Elevated Toll Road is a 36.4-kilometre-long (22.6 mi) elevated expressway that extends from Cikunir, Bekasi, to Karawang in West Java, Indonesia. It passes over some sections of the existing Jakarta–Cikampek Toll Road. It is the longest flyover in Indonesia, and the longest elevated double decker expressways in Southeast Asia.
10. Sheikh Jaber Causeway
Kuwait inaugurated one of the world’s longest sea bridges last year, shaving an hour off the drive from the Gulf country's capital to an uninhabited area set to become the country’s major free trade zone. The Sheikh Jaber Causeway, named after the late Sheikh Jaber Al Sabah who reigned during the Gulf War, is 36 kilometres long – making it the fourth longest bridge in the world. Approximately 80 per cent of the bridge is over water and will connect Kuwait City to Subiya, where a 100-billion dollar mega-city is being built. The bridge also makes Kuwait’s largest island 30 minutes from the Gulf state’s capital, having previously been a near two-hour drive.
