China is accelerating its efforts to lead the world in the construction of the longest and most expensive sea bridges.
Jiao Zhou Bay Bridge, located in Qingdao City, Shandong Province (China). This $1.8 billion structure spans 41.58 km and is 35 m wide; it consists of 5,000 pillars and was constructed over four years (2007-2011). To accommodate heavy traffic, the bridge features six parallel lanes. Vehicles can cross from one end to the other in about 30 minutes. Chinese officials assert that the bridge can withstand super typhoons and earthquakes of up to 8 on the Richter scale. (Photo: Reuters).
Pontchartrain Bridge spans Lake Pontchartrain with a total length of 38.42 km, connecting Metairie and St. Tammany Parish in the United States. It was recognized by the Guinness World Records as the longest over-water bridge in the world in 1969 but was surpassed by the Jiao Zhou Bridge in 2011. On average, more than 30,000 vehicles travel across it daily. (Photo: Travel and Leisure).
Hangzhou Bay Bridge is also among China’s “mega” bridges, completed in June 2007, measuring 35.6 km in length and 33 m in width. The bridge connects Ningbo and Jiaxing, shortening the road distance from Shanghai to Ningbo by 120 km. The total construction cost was nearly $2 billion. Engineers utilized seven pile-driving ships equipped with global positioning systems (GPS) to ensure a high level of accuracy in construction. (Photo: Top China Travel).
Donghai Bridge measures 32.5 km and connects Shanghai to the deep-water Yangshan Port in China, facilitating maritime trade with the mainland. The bridge was inaugurated in May 2008. It was the first and longest sea bridge in the world before the Hangzhou Bay Bridge was completed. The bridge is rated for a lifespan of 100 years and has a speed limit of 80 km/h. (Photo: ZME Travel).
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge has a total length of 55 km, with a main structure measuring 29.6 km. This project used 420,000 tons of steel, equivalent to 60 Eiffel Towers, and is estimated to have cost over $10 billion. The bridge was designed to minimize negative impacts on the marine environment, which is home to the Chinese white dolphin. The main section of the bridge was connected on June 6, 2016. (Photo: Getty).
Chesapeake Bay Bridge, also known as William Preston Lane, Jr. Memorial Bridge, connects the eastern states and the western coastal areas of the United States. This bridge is the only route between the Eastern Shore and Virginia, south of Hampton Roads. With a total length of 32 km, it includes 19 km of bridge with supports, two 1.6 km tunnels, and four artificial islands, creating an impressive engineering masterpiece. It is recognized as one of the seven wonders of the world. (Photo: Coastal Virginia).
The King Fahd Causeway was constructed to promote trade and strengthen diplomatic relations, linking Saudi Arabia with the island nation of Bahrain. After years of planning, the kings of the two Arab nations officially laid the first stone to commence construction on November 11, 1982. With a total cost of approximately $800 million, the bridge consists of four lanes, measuring 28 km in length and 23 m in width. (Photo: Emaze).
With a construction budget of approximately $7.7 billion, Jintang Bridge was once recognized as the third longest bridge in China when completed. (Photo: Broer).
The Vasco Da Gama Bridge in Portugal: Named after the famous 15th-century explorer Vasco Da Gama, this is the longest bridge in Europe, with a total length of over 17 km. With a budget reaching one billion USD, the bridge serves as a vital transportation link connecting the north and south of Portugal. (Photo: Peter Bohringer Photography/Flickr).
The Tokyo Bay Aqua-Line is a combination of a bridge and a tunnel across Tokyo Bay. It connects Kawasaki City with Kisarazu City. The bridge spans 14 km, including 4.4 km of bridge and 9.6 km of tunnel within Tokyo Bay. There is an artificial island called Umihotaru on the bridge, home to numerous restaurants and entertainment spots. (Photo: Youtube).
Penang Second Bridge (also known as Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah Bridge), located in Malaysia, connects Gelugor on Penang Island with Seberang Prai on the mainland of the Malay Peninsula. The bridge is also part of the highway system in Penang. It officially opened on September 14, 1985, with a total length of 13.5 km. This new bridge features an environmentally friendly design and can withstand earthquakes of up to 8.2 on the Richter scale at a distance of 300 km. Two lanes for cars and one lane for motorcycles help reduce traffic on the old Penang Bridge by 25%. The Penang Second Bridge is a source of pride for the people of Penang, always bustling with traffic. At 8,320 meters long, it is considered the third largest suspension bridge in the world, facilitating many small cruise ships transporting people from the mainland to Penang. (Photo: Penang Bridge).
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, USA, completed in 1936, spans over 13.4 km, connecting the cities of San Francisco and Oakland. The highest point of the bridge features a tower that rises 160 m, shining every night thanks to its dazzling lighting system. (Photo: Mott MacDonald).
The Seven Mile Bridge, Florida, USA, is an iconic bridge in Florida, stretching over the ocean and connecting the Gulf of Mexico with the state of Florida. Initially built as part of a railway line, the bridge has undergone several renovations and upgrades to accommodate automobile traffic. With a total length of 6.79 miles (approximately 10.93 km), the Seven Mile Bridge marks a new era in transportation in this area. Each month, the bridge closes for about 2.5 hours on Saturdays to host the “Seven Mile Bridge Run”, attracting thousands of participants for a fun run. This event has become a hallmark, celebrating the bridge’s reconstruction in 1982. Despite the deterioration of the old bridge due to saltwater and storms, it still attracts attention from both locals and tourists. Currently, only a 2.2-mile stretch of the old bridge is open for pedestrians and cyclists, providing an ideal stopping point to explore the area. With stunning views of the ocean, the Seven Mile Bridge is not only one of the longest bridges in America but also a captivating landscape. (Photo: Visit Florida).
The Tan Vu – Lach Huyen Bridge connects the Dinh Vu Peninsula with Cat Hai Island, spanning 5.4 km (the total length of the Tan Vu – Lach Huyen road project exceeds 15 km) and officially opened on the morning of September 2nd. The total investment is nearly 12 trillion VND, with a significant portion coming from Japanese ODA loans and a local counterpart of 1.8 trillion VND. The project employs a precast concrete segmental bridge method (SBS) to shorten construction time. This is the first time this construction method has been applied in Vietnam.
The Oresund Bridge, Denmark and Sweden: Spanning the Oresund Strait at the southern tip of Sweden and Denmark, the Oresund Bridge was designed by George KS Rotne. It uniquely combines an 8 km cable-stayed bridge with a 4 km underwater tunnel. With its distinctive structure, the Oresund Bridge features a main span of 490 m suspended by four towers, each 203.5 m high. This height allows ships to easily pass underneath. The bridge has been operational since July 1, 2000, enhancing transportation capabilities and connectivity between the two major cities. Viewed from above, the bridge appears to be only half-visible, situated amidst the vast ocean, creating a stunning scene. (Photo: Johannes Heuckeroth/Alamy).
