The world's longest sea bridge opened in China. He is beautiful and chic, but he has already been criticized. What is the name of the longest bridge in China?
BEIJING, October 23 – RIA Novosti. The world's longest sea bridge, 55 kilometers long, was opened in southern China, reports China Central Television. It connected Hong Kong, Macau and Zhuhai city of Guangdong province.
The ceremony took place in Zhuhai. It was attended by Chinese President Xi Jinping, Hong Kong Chief Executive Carrie Lam, Vice Premier of the State Council Han Zheng, Secretary of the Party Committee of Guangdong Province Li Si and about 700 other guests.
A trip from Hong Kong to Zhuhai will now take half an hour instead of three hours. Free movement will open on October 24.
According to preliminary estimates, by 2030, more than 29 thousand vehicles and over 120 thousand passengers per day will cross the bridge. It is expected to greatly contribute to the economic integration and development of the three most important cities in the Pearl River Delta Economic Zone, as well as tourism in Hong Kong and Macau.
© AP Photo/Andy Wong
© AP Photo/Andy Wong
The bridge consists of several surface parts with a total length of 22.9 kilometers, an underwater tunnel 6.7 kilometers long, several artificial islands, as well as special border checkpoints between mainland China, Hong Kong and Macau.
The weight of the bridge exceeds 400 thousand tons. It should last up to 120 years and is designed to withstand a strong typhoon with wind speeds of over 300 kilometers per hour, as well as an earthquake of magnitude eight.
The design also took into account the fact that this area is one of the most navigable in China. Thus, the bridge spans are located at the proper height, and the distance between the supports is sufficient so as not to disrupt the movement of ships.
History of construction
The idea to connect Hong Kong and Guangdong province with a bridge appeared in the late 1980s. In 2003, the central government of China ordered preliminary calculations and development of the project to begin. Hundreds of research organizations were involved in the design. The number of registered patents involved in construction exceeded a thousand.
Hong Kong and Macau are special administrative regions that became part of China in 1997 and 1999 under the principle of “one country, two systems.” Each of the three governments agreed to build the necessary infrastructure on their territory, but for a long time they could not agree on financing the main part of the bridge.
Construction began in December 2009 and was due to be completed in 2016. But the opening was delayed due to corruption, budget revisions, accidents, accidents and unfavorable weather conditions.
In addition, the project was criticized by environmentalists, primarily due to the decline in the population of Chinese white dolphins - symbols of Hong Kong. According to the regional government, from April 2007 to March 2018, only about 50 individuals were recorded in Hong Kong waters.
Nowadays bridges are not something surprising or supernatural. They have long become a convenient tool for movement, and allow you to achieve your goal in the shortest possible time. Once upon a time, bridges were trees, planks and ropes. Today these are amazing structures that constantly compete in perfection and strength.
After everyone appreciated the convenience of these structures, bridges began to be perceived as a certain form of art; they actually look impressively beautiful and represent a great creation of mankind. Many people specifically go on a trip in order to see and visit the most beautiful bridges in the world.
In this article we will introduce you to longest bridges in the world and we’ll tell you about the construction process, history and many interesting incidents that are inextricably linked with them.
1.Danyan-Kunyshan viaduct. China. This longest bridge in the world, 164.8 kilometers long. It was built as part of the Beijing High Mountain Railway. Its construction took only 2 years. It is located in Jiangsu province, between Shanghai and the city of Nanki. The largest body of water that crosses the bridge is Yangcheng Lake. The lake, in turn, is famous for the fact that it is home to shaggy crabs, whose meat is a great delicacy.
2. Tianjin viaduct. China. Second longest bridge, is also located in China and its construction also took 2 years. Its length reaches 113,700 meters, which stretches from Beijing South Railway Station to the city of Tianjin.
It is not surprising that third longest bridge in the world is located in China. Its total length is 79,732 meters and connects the cities of Zhengzhou and Xi'an. The bridge received this name because it crosses the Wei River twice.
4. Bang Na Highway. Thailand. There is a bridge in the city Bangkok, and its total length is 54 kilometers. The construction of this above-ground structure lasted 5 years, and the cost of the entire project was more than 1 billion US dollars. Traffic across the bridge paid, this is due to the fact that there is a free ground road. The bridge was created in order to relieve traffic jams on highways.
And again, China is the country that holds the record for the longest bridges. Its length is 42.5 kilometers and extends between the city of Qingdao and the Huangdao region, and also crosses the northern part of Jiaozhou Bay.
Construction of the bridge took 4 years and cost China 60 billion Chinese yuan, the same as almost 10 billion US dollars. Every day, 30,000 cars cross the bridge, saving only 20-30 minutes, which is clearly not worth such a waste of the state budget.
6.Bridge (dam) across Lake Pontchartrain. USA. It also has another name, which is better known to Americans - bridge between Mandeville and Metairie, since these two cities are connected by a lake. It is located in the state of Louisiana, and its length is 38.42 kilometers.
If we compare it with other similar buildings, the bridge is particularly stable and resistant to various elements. True, during its existence (since 1948), one or several barges periodically crash into the bridge.
7.Hangzhou Bay Bridge. Despite the fact that this bridge is the seventh on our list, it is actually the first longest transoceanic bridge in the world.
In turn, it crosses the ocean and connects the cities of Shanghai and Ningbo. The length of the bridge is 36 kilometers, its estimated service life is 100 years, despite the fact that it was built in China.
8.Bridge named after Louisiana paratroopers. USA. From the name, it is obvious that the bridge is located in the state of Louisiana, namely between cities of Baton Rouge and Lafayette. The bridge crosses the Atchafalaya Basin and has a length of 29.29 kilometers, making it second longest bridge in the USA. Near the visitor center at milepost 121 of Highway 3177 is a monument dedicated to the memory of the soldiers of the 82nd Airborne Division.
9. King Fahd Bridge. Saudi Arabia. It is rather a whole complex of bridges, the total length of which is more than 25 kilometers. The purpose of the complex is to connect the city of Al Hubao in Saudi Arabia and island state of Bahrain. Construction began in 1982 when heads of state King Fahd and Isa laid the first stone.
10. Bridge-tunnel over the Chesapeake Bay. USA. Have you ever seen a bridge turn into an underwater tunnel? No? Then you have a great opportunity to take a ride underwater. It is located in Virginia and was built back in 1964.
The bridge, if you can even call it that, consists of two underwater tunnels (1600 meters each), 4 artificial islands, 2 bridges, more than 3 kilometers of dam roads and 9 kilometers of access roads. And all this is done so that US Navy vessels can safely go to the open sea. The total length of all these structures is 24.14 kilometers.
That's how creative people can be. Once you see one of these giants, it will be difficult to name it just a bridge, in fact, this is a real work of art, resourcefulness and talent.
In fact, this is not the limit of human capabilities and, given how quickly our planet is populated with more and more new people, soon it will all be covered with many layers of bridges, highways and tunnels.
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The People's Republic of China always surprises with the scale of its buildings. Apparently, after the Great Wall of China, they cannot stop, and they need the very best. Attracts special attention bridges in China. If you turn to Wikipedia with the question “ longest bridges in the world", then you can see that 12 out of 20 are in China, and occupy the top three positions. In this article we will tell you about the most exciting of them.
Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct
We will start with the longest bridge in the world, which is listed in Guinness Book of Records. The length of the bridge is 164.8 km. The most amazing thing is that the construction took only two years, the construction period was from 2008 to 2010.
The Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct is located in the east of the country in Jiangsu province, connecting the cities of Shanghai and Nanjing, and is part of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway. Approximately 9 kilometers of the bridge is over water.
Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macau Bridge
Another longest in the world, but this time a sea bridge connects major cities: Hong Kong, Zhuhai, Macau. The structure consists of a series of bridges - 38 km, underwater tunnels - about 7 km, access overpasses and artificial islands. The total length of the construction is 55 km, and the length of the main part of the bridge is about 30 km. Construction was completed in 2017 and took 8 years.
According to preliminary information, the bridge should be put into operation in May 2018. Before the construction of this facility, the first place among sea bridges was also occupied by the Chinese Qingdao Bay Bridge.
Hangzhou Bay Bridge
This longest transoceanic the world's bridge connecting Shanghai and Ningbo. Its length is 36 km, and halfway there is an island platform where drivers can stop and rest or have a snack right in the middle of the bay. Construction of the bridge lasted from 2003 to 2007.
Pedestrian glass bridge
Another record holder was a pedestrian bridge in southern China in Sichuan province. He received the title - the highest in the world glass bridge. Its length is 488 meters, and it is located at an altitude of 1,880 meters above sea level (the distance from the bridge to the bottom of the gorge reaches 186 meters).
No more than 500 people are allowed onto the bridge at a time, but the structure itself is designed for 2,000 visitors. Of course, this walk is not for the faint of heart. In addition to this, the bridge has a special effect: plasmas are built into it, which emit cracked glass underfoot.
Duge Bridge
If we are not talking about pedestrian bridges, but automobile bridges, then the Chinese have surpassed everyone here. It was completed in 2016 highest suspension bridge in the world, which connects the western and eastern banks of the Beipanjiang River. The Duge Bridge is located at an altitude of 564 m above the river and has a length of more than 1,341 meters. It took 3 years to build it.
Bridge over Sydukhe
Another suspension bridge crosses the Siduhe River Valley in Hubei Province. It was he who occupied first place among suspension bridges before Duge was built. But we couldn’t ignore it because of its laconic design, which looks so organic against the backdrop of the picturesque landscape. The total length of the bridge is 1,222 meters, the height above ground level is 496 meters.
Lupu Bridge
Second longest steel arch bridge in the world with a total length of about 4 km. It is laid over the Huangpu River and connects two districts of Shanghai. The Lupu Bridge has a modern design and looks especially impressive at night when the lights are on.
To select a project, a competition was held, which was organized by the city administration. The opening of the bridge took place in 2003.
Sutong Bridge
The bridge is located in Suzhou in Jiangsu Province in eastern China. It runs across the Yangtze River and is 8,206 meters long. The opening of the bridge took place in 2008. Not only is it an important landmark as it shortens the route between the two counties, but it is also a striking landmark due to its futuristic design.
Jiaxing-Shaoxing Bridge
The longest and widest bridge among multi-pylon cable-stayed bridges, crosses Hangzhou Bay and connects the cities of Jiaxing and Shaoxing. General bridge length 10,138 meters. It also looks very impressive at night when illuminated.
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A long-awaited new bridge has been opened in China. And not just any bridge, but the longest bridge across the sea in the world. Its length is 55 kilometers, of which more than six and a half are located under water. In a special tunnel. The bridge connected the southern cities of Hong Kong and Macau with the city of Zhuhai in Guangdong Province (mainland China), greatly facilitating communication between these two important points for the country's economy. If previously the journey from one city to another lasted three hours, now it has been reduced by 6 times and will take only half an hour. However, not everyone can drive across the bridge. And we are not talking about those who do not live in China - a number of restrictions have also been introduced for residents of the country.
The world's longest bridge across the sea has been opened in China. Its length is 55 kilometers, and it crosses the Pearl River Delta
For lovers of everything “itself”, you need to immediately make a reservation: this is not the longest bridge in the world, it is only the sixth in this indicator. However, it is the first among all automobile ones, while those five mastodons are railway ones. The longest on the planet is also the Chinese Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct, which stretches more than 164 kilometers.
The construction of the six-lane Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge began back in 2009 and could have opened in 2016, but it didn’t work out
But due to weather emergencies, corruption and numerous accidents, the project's grand opening was delayed. Up to this day.
The grandeur of the structure is amazing! Its construction took 400 thousand tons of steel. Well, 200 billion dollars to boot
The photo shows a tunnel under the bridge, and its appearance also emphasizes the power and size of the project. The bridge, of course, is designed to withstand all sorts of aggressive natural manifestations - typhoons and powerful earthquakes of magnitude 8.0. Its service life is 120 years.
Two artificial islands were also built for the project, as part of the route passes through underwater tunnels
The length of the tunnels is 6.7 kilometers. The bridge connects mainland China (Zhonghai) and the south of the country (Hong Kong and Macau). Now the journey from point A to point B will not be three hours, as before, but only a measly half an hour.
However, there are also some strange operational nuances associated with this beauty. For example, not everyone will be able to drive on it.
Yes, yes, the bridge has been built, but the average resident of Hong Kong or Zhuhai should not expect that he will be able to get into his Lifan and drive freely along it. The fact is that to ride it you need a special permit, which is not so easy (and cheap) to obtain. Those wishing to cross the bridge will have to transfer from their car to a special shuttle. The cost of one way travel will be about 550-650 rubles.
Also, the bridge was subject to severe criticism from different sides: it was built incorrectly (many accidents), and too much money was spent, and rare white dolphins are now under even greater threat
In addition, Hong Kong residents fear that an uncontrollable flow of tourists from mainland China will now pour in. As for money, experts say the bridge will never pay for itself - annual profits are expected to be only $86 million. As for white dolphins, the huge construction project was not at all beneficial for the environment, so the number of dolphins in the Pearl River Delta has decreased.
Local residents and critics have given the structure several offensive nicknames: “Bridge of Death” and “Great White Elephant.” But at the same time, the bridge is terribly beautiful and will certainly become one of the symbols of China
Engineering structures erected over obstacles are an indicator of development, an index of the technical progress of civilization. Over their thousand-year history, the hardworking Chinese have built many bridges. Built during the reign of the House of Han, the Chinese Ba Bridge in Xi'an (386 m, 64 spans) is considered one of the oldest multi-span transport structures in the world.
Modern Chinese bridge builders do not forget the traditions of their ancestors: bridge construction in the country does not stop for a moment. Of the twenty longest bridges in the world, thirteen were built in China. All of them have been put into operation already in this century, all are included in the majestic transport network that densely interweaves the Middle State.
Longest over water
The Qingdao Colossus connects the shores of Jiaozhou Harbor, integrating the miracle site into the industrial area of Huangdao (eastern and western regional outskirts). Every day, without breaks or weekends, more than 30,000 passenger and cargo units rush through the Qingdao facility. The enormous communication artifact reduces the province’s cargo and passenger logistics by 30 kilometers.
Length of the man-made object: 42.5 km (26 of them rise above the surface of the bay), the spans of the structure are supported by 5,200 supports.
Important! Official construction cost: one and a half billion dollars. A number of reputable publications claim that the estimate was significantly exceeded and the total price list for the release was 8.8 billion.
The majestic Qingdao masterpiece is a leader among water crossings, and deservedly reigns in the Guinness Register in the China section.
Ideology
The Qingdao project was developed and implemented as part of a national program to improve the interconnections of rapidly developing and growing provinces of the PRC. Strategically important for the development of the entire country, it was simply suffocating in the absence of modern transport infrastructure.
Cargo terminals of the city - the port of Qingdao.
There was a regular ferry service from the coastal metropolis to the industrial area of Huangdao (across the sea). The capacity of the ferry service was critically insufficient to carry out a decent cargo flow.
The six-lane colossus, coupled with a high-speed underground tunnel, became the fundamental basis of a huge national project: the Qingdao-Lanzhou highway.
Construction stages
The grandiose construction project, which started in 2007, lasted four years. More than ten thousand builders worked around the clock on the giant site. The construction of the monumental facility required more than 450 thousand tons of steel and about 2.4 million cubic meters of concrete. During the construction of the transport colossus, the most modern equipment and ultra-progressive construction technologies were used.
- first phase: throwing spans (simultaneously from both banks, with a planned meeting with a “bow” in the center of the bay);
- second phase: construction and arrangement of entrances to the facility, and improvement of the structure itself (power supply, fencing, asphalt paving, markings, etc.).
Special Features
The designers of the transport facility claim that the Qingdao project is a real engineering masterpiece - if necessary, the facility will withstand an eight-magnitude earthquake, a typhoon, a tsunami, and even a collision with an out-of-control ocean-going vessel with a displacement of up to 300 thousand tons.
The Jiaozhou Estuary is frozen in ice for two winter months: the bridge is the largest man-made structure in the icy expanses of the Celestial Empire. Experts guarantee a hundred-year operational life of the bay’s transport pearl.
Other Bridges of the Middle State
Throughout the history of ancient civilization, Chinese architects and builders shocked and awed the world community. The Celestial Empire has always loved and knew how to surprise: from the Great Wall of China to majestic palaces and pagodas.
Important! The construction of transport arteries is a separate page in the formation of the state.
The difficult terrain stimulated the development and implementation of the latest engineering solutions and technologies. Bridge builders and their products are the pride and heritage of the country.
Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct
The main obstacle to transport routes is the discontinuity of the terrain (ravines, gorges, canyons). Transport and communication facilities built in places with significant elevation differences are called viaducts.
Danyang - Kunshan is the largest viaduct bridge in the world between Shanghai and Nanjing.
The industrial masterpiece Danyang-Kunshan (164.8 km) is located in the Jiangsu region. It is part of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, connecting the two industrial cities of Shanghai and Nanjing.
The viaduct was built in record time: 2008-2010.
Hong Kong - Zhuhai - Macau
The world's greatest sea bridge, Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau, is a masterpiece of bridge-building art. The grandiose transport facility combines a series of spans, a series of underground crossings and groups of man-made islands in the sea.
The long construction time (by Chinese standards, eight years is a very long time) is justified by the strict environmental safety framework of the region. Also, the “long-term construction” was facilitated by lengthy administrative approvals: dedicated administrative units of the Celestial Empire.
The total length of the transport facility is 55 km, the length of the main bridge span is about 30 km. The 420 thousand tons of metal required for construction would be enough to build sixty Eiffel Towers.
Hangzhou Bridge
The majestic Hangzhou Bridge connects Shanghai and Ningbo. The grandiose construction project implemented the ideology of billions of dollars of investment in the state’s transport infrastructure. The economic hub, the consumer goods exporter port of Ningbo, needed guaranteed transport accessibility to China's financial and business headliner, the metropolis of Shanghai.
The length of the transoceanic structure is 36 km, the permitted speed of movement is 100 km/h, the guaranteed service life is more than a hundred years. Bridge cost: 11.8 billion yuan.
Transparent transition
In the Hebei region (China), the world's longest glass bridge is open to pedestrians. 488 m of nerve-wracking walk at an altitude of 230: a 100% tourist highlight and a fetish for adrenaline junkies.
1077 glass panels cover the exotic structure. An additional nervous shock is guaranteed by an option specially announced by the designers: the bridge sways as it passes.
The Hebei Bridge turned out to be fifty meters longer than the previous “transparent” leader: the “Cloud Crossing” across the canyon has been moved from the top position of China’s transparent attractions.
Duge Bridge
The highest suspension bridge in the world connects the banks of the Beipanjiang River and, accordingly, the two provinces of Guizhou and Yunnan.
The complexity of the mountainous terrain required exclusive engineering solutions from the designers of the Duge Bridge. Based on the type of construction, the bridge is classified as a cable-stayed bridge: tower supports and a span suspended on cable-stayed cables.
The Duge Bridge sags at an altitude of 564 m above the river canyon and amazes motorists with its length (one and a half kilometers).
Construction of Lupu
The Lupu does not interfere with navigation on the Huangpu River; its height above the surface of the river waves is 46 m. The “Silver” world position in the category of arched transport structures commutes the two halves of Shanghai. A calling card of the metropolis and a tourist attraction, the central bridge arch stretches for 750 meters.
The modern design of the majestic structure is captivating; the bridge looks most effective at night when illuminated.
Important! At the apogee of the bridge arch, an observation and selfie zone was built: one and a half kilometers along the roadway, a high-speed elevator and... exhausting 367 steps.
The total length of the famous Shanghai Bridge is 3900 m.
Sutun
The 8,206-meter cable-stayed giant across the Yangtze connects the cities of Nantong and Changsha (eastern mainland China).
The enchanting structure was put into operation in 2008. The construct brings the two counties together and amazes tourists and business partners of the country with its ultra-design.
Jiaxing-Shaoxing
The pearl of bridge construction of the Middle State, a wonderful multi-pylon transport facility, adorns Hangzhouwan and brings the two industrial centers of Jiaxing and Shaoxing closer.
The total length of the combined transoceanic bridge crossing is 10,138 meters. The bridge impresses with its urban design and powerful splendor.
How are bridges built in China?
Thoughtful and wisely slow, China simply amazes with the pace of construction. They build in the Celestial Empire quickly and with very high quality. The Chinese love the latest technological innovations and cutting-edge mechanisms. For the construction of roads and the construction of majestic bridges, the incredible giant construction complex SLJ900/32 was created and put into operation in China.
The dimensions of the giant bridge layer are impressive: 90 meters long and 9 meters wide. The ultra-modern monster weighs just over 580 tons.
Conclusion
The bridge is one of the most ancient engineering structures invented and implemented by mankind. The construction of bridges in China is an extremely important task: the explosive pace of economic development of the PRC would be impossible without majestic transport highways. All of China's latest bridge-building masterpieces not only connect industrial and commercial regions, but also give the people of the Middle Kingdom the right to be proud of their country.