The bridge connecting the continents of Asia and Europe has dethroned Japan’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge to become the longest suspension bridge in the world.
The Longest Suspension Bridges in the World
Suspension bridges are among the oldest architectural structures in the world. Originally, ropes and wood were the primary materials used to build suspension bridges. Today, these materials have been replaced with reinforced concrete and high-strength cables. Below is a list of the six longest suspension bridges in the world, measured by the length of their main span.
6. Humber Bridge, 1,410m, United Kingdom
Photo: Outdooractive.
The Humber Bridge is a 2,220m long suspension bridge located in Kingston upon Hull, connecting North Lincolnshire and East Riding of Yorkshire. The bridge’s main span of 1,410m is the longest suspension span in the United Kingdom. The bridge was officially opened by Queen Elizabeth II on July 17, 1981, and until 1998, Humber held the title of the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world.
The Humber Bridge can withstand wind speeds of up to nearly 130 km/h and is designed for continuous movement. Its central span also allows for marine traffic. The bridge accommodates a traffic volume of 12,000 vehicles per week.
5. Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge 4, 1,418m, China
Photo: Mageba.
Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge 4 is the third-longest suspension bridge in China, located over the Yangtze River in Nanjing, Jiangsu Province. Its longest span measures 1,418m.
The construction of this bridge cost 6.8 billion RMB and was opened to traffic on December 24, 2012. The bridge features six lanes, allowing vehicles to travel at speeds of 100-125 km/h.
4. Great Belt Bridge, 1,624m, Denmark
Photo: Henrik Sendelbach.
The Great Belt Bridge is part of a fixed-link transport system connecting the islands of Zealand and Funen in Denmark. The system includes a road suspension bridge, a railway tunnel, and a box girder bridge.
After decades of discussion, the Danish Parliament decided in 1986 to build the bridge and tunnel, replacing the time-consuming ferry service that had operated for hundreds of years across the Storebaelt Strait. Today, crossing the bridge takes less than 15 minutes.
Construction of the bridge began in 1989 and was opened to the public in 1998. The Great Belt Bridge rises 254m above the water, making it the highest point in Denmark. Its longest span measures 1,624m, ranking it as the fourth longest main span in the world.
3. Xihoumen Bridge, 1,650m, China
Photo: Trip.com.
Xihoumen Bridge (also known as the West Gate Bridge) has the longest main span in China and is the third-longest suspension bridge in the world, situated in the Zhoushan Archipelago. The central span of this bridge measures 1,650m.
The Xihoumen Bridge has a total length of 5.3 km, including a 2.7 km approach and a main bridge of 2.6 km. Construction began in 2005 and was completed in 2007, with the bridge opened to traffic on December 25, 2009. The bridge design accommodates four expressway lanes, allowing vehicles to travel at speeds of up to 80 km/h.
2. Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, 1,991m, Japan
Photo: Tabi-nal.
For a long time, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge held the title of the longest suspension bridge in the world until the recent completion of Turkey’s Canakkale 1915 Bridge.
The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge connects the city of Kobe to Awaji Island in Japan. It has three spans, with the central span measuring 1,991m and the other two spans each measuring 960m. The bridge’s stiffening system allows it to withstand wind speeds of up to 286 km/h and earthquakes of up to 8.5 on the Richter scale.
Construction of the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge began in 1988 and took ten years to complete. It is estimated that 181,000 tons of steel were used in its construction. The bridge was inaugurated on April 5, 1998, and has six lanes of traffic. The main cables of the bridge also feature colorful lighting that illuminates special occasions such as national holidays and memorial days.
1. Canakkale 1915 Bridge, 2,023m, Turkey
Photo: Altanakin.
In mid-March, Turkey inaugurated the world’s longest suspension bridge – the Canakkale 1915 Bridge. This bridge serves as a new transportation route that shortens the travel time between the European and Asian sides of the Dardanelles Strait to just 6 minutes. This is a vital waterway for the country, located between the two continents.
With a tower height of 318m and a central span of 2,023m, the Canakkale 1915 Bridge has surpassed Japan’s Akashi Kaikyo Bridge to become the longest suspension bridge in the world, with a total length of 4.6 km including approach roads.
