Top 10 Longest Bridges in the World
The world of civil engineering is a fascinating one. A beautiful amalgamation of geometry and art, the structures that these engineers come up with defy gravity. One of these structures is a bridge. Defined as ‘a structure that is built over a river, road, or railway to allow people and vehicles to cross from one side to the other’, some of the bridges built till date have managed to baffle mankind by their sheer magnitude and architecture. Want to know more? Well, here’s a list of top 10 longest bridges in the world. The list is in no particular order though.
1. DanyangKunshan Grand Bridge - Longest Bridge in China:
Not only the longest bridge in China, the DanyangKunshan Grand Bridge is the longest bridge in the world. Stretching across approximately 164 kilometres, it is located on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway track. Operational since June 2011, another part of the same railway line located between Langfang Qingxian is the second longest bridge in the world. The DanyangKunshan Grand Bridge was built at a cost of approximately 8.5 million USD and the construction lasted over 4 years.
Where: Between Beijing and Shanghai
Length: 164,800 metres
Accessible to: High speed railway
2. Dwarka Sector 8 Metro Station - Longest Bridge in India:
Being the longest railway line currently running on the Delhi Metro network, it is no wonder then that the longest bridge in India would be located on this Blue Line track. Note that the bridge on the Dwarka Sector 8 Metro Station is the longest rail bridge in India. The longest road bridge in the nation is the Dhola Sadiya Bridge which spans the mighty Brahmaputra River and connects the states of Arunachal Pradesh and Assam.
Where: New Delhi
Length: 29,808 metres
Accessible to: Railway
3. Rio-Niteroi Bridge - Longest Bridge in Brazil:
The Rio-Niteroi Bridge is the longest bridge in Latin America. The sixth longest prestressed concrete bridge in the world, this one connects the cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi. Wondering where you have seen this bridge? If you are a fan of the Fast and the Furious franchise, some of the scenes from the Fast Five (Fast & Furious: Rio Heist) were filmed here.
Where: State of Rio de Janeiro
Length: 13,290 metres
Accessible to: Trucks, cars and other such vehicles.
4. Great Seto Bridge - Longest Bridge in Japan:
The Great Seto Bridge, known locally as the Seto Ohashi, is the name given to six consecutive bridges connecting five islands in Japan. A cable stayed bridge, the construction for this one started in the year 1978 and it took 10 years to finish the project. It holds the designation of being the world’s longest two-tiered bridge.
Where: Kurashiki
Length: 13,100 metres
Accessible to: Railway as well as light vehicles
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5. Saint-Nazaire Bridge- Longest Bridge in France:
PC: Wikimedia
One of the longest bridges in the world, the Saint-Nazaire Bridge is a picturesque viaduct that connects the commune of Saint-Nazaire to the commune of Saint-Brevin-les-Pins. A cable stayed bridge; this one spans the Loire River and gives travellers magnificent views of the surrounding landscapes. During the night, the bridge is beautifully lit up thus providing fantastic photography opportunities.
Where: Between Saint-Nazaire and Saint-Brevin-les-Pins
Length: 3,356 metres
Accessible to: Trucks, cars and other such vehicles.
6. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway - Longest Bridge in USA:
The 7th longest bridge in the world, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is made up of two bridges running parallel. Spanning the Lake Pontchartrain, this causeway is the longest continuous bridge over water according to the Guinness World Records. The beautiful lake along with the stunning bridge over it comprises one of America’s most famous scenic spots.
Where: southern Louisiana
Length: 38,442 metres
Accessible to: Trucks, cars and other such vehicles.
7. President Bridge - Longest Bridge in Russia:
PC: Wikimedia
The President Bridge is a truss bridge that connects the city of Ulyanovsk with the Ulyanovsk Oblast. Spanning the Volga River, the bridge is one of the longest in Europe. Opened in the year 2009 for the general public, the bridge was constructed at a cost of 38.4 billion rubbles. The President Bridge boasts of traffic of 40,000 vehicles per day.
Where: Ulyanovsk Oblast
Length: 5,825 metres
Accessible to: Trucks, cars and other such vehicles.
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8. Jamal Abdul Nasser Bridge - Longest Bridge in Kuwait:
Currently under a revamp, the Jamal Abdul Nasser Bridge is the longest bridge in Kuwait. When the refurbishment began back in the year 2010, it was considered to be the biggest infrastructure projects ever undertaken by the Ministry of Public Works of Kuwait. The Jamal Abdul Nasser Bridge is also one of the biggest bridges in the entire Middle East.
Where: Kuwait City
Length: 7,333 metres
Accessible to: Trucks, cars and other such vehicles.
9. Bromford Viaduct - Longest Bridge in UK:
PC: geograph
An elevated motorway, the Bromford Viaduct rises above the Tame River and is the longest bridge in Great Britain. It carries traffic of the M6 motorway from Castle Bromwich to Gravelly Hill. Along the way, it offers some magnificent views to the travellers.
Where: England
Length: 5,600 metres
Accessible to: Trucks, cars and other such vehicles.
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10. Zacatal Bridge - One of the longest bridges in Mexico:
Connecting the Isla del Carmen and the Atasta peninsula, the Zacatal Bridge in Mexico is a beam bridge. The construction of the bridge was completed in the year 1994 and it has been serving the public ever since.
Where: Ciudad del Carmen
Length: 3,861 metres
Accessible to: Trucks, cars and other such vehicles.
All set to drive down some of the longest bridges in the world? Please abide by the speed limits. We wish you a happy journey.
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