Original photo by Art Wager/ iStock
Most of the world’s longest bridges have one thing in common: They’re in Asia, usually China. The Middle Kingdom is responsible for six of the 10 longest bridges in the world, with two in the United States (oddly, both in Louisiana) and one apiece in Thailand and Taiwan. Most of these bridges were also built recently, but several are just over a decade old. Here, for your reading and traversing pleasure, are 10 of the longest bridges in the world.
Manchac Swamp Bridge (U.S.)
Should you ever find yourself in the area near Ponchatoula, Louisiana, you may be among the 2,250 drivers who use the Manchac Swamp Bridge on a daily basis. It extends 22.8 miles over a swamp that’s said to be haunted by either a Voodoo princess, a rougarou (Cajun werewolf), or both. Even if you don’t believe in such things, there’s no dismissing the alligators in the water below as mythical creatures.
Wuhan Metro Bridge (China)
The Yangtze is the longest river in Asia, flowing 3,915 miles from Tibet’s Tanggula Mountains to the East China Sea. Until 1957, no bridges crossed it and travelers relied on ferries. Now there are many crossings, the longest of which is the 23.48-mile Wuhan Metro Bridge. Part of the city’s elevated Metro line, it opened in 2004.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (U.S.)
Better known as the Causeway, this feat of engineering in southeastern Louisiana is recognized by Guinness World Records as the longest continuous bridge over water. Spanning 23.87 miles and completed in 1969, it’s known to cause a feeling of unease: Once you reach the middle, land isn’t visible in either direction and water stretches as far as the eye can see.
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Beijing Grand Bridge (China)
Part of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, as are several others on this list, this railway viaduct connects Beijing South and Langfang (located roughly midway between Beijing and Tianjin). The bridge measures 29.8 miles. Construction began in 2010 and was completed the following year.
Bang Na Expressway (Thailand)
Until 2008, the Bang Na Expressway — also known as the Burapha Withi Expressway — was the longest bridge in the world, at 33.5 miles long. It held that record for eight years, having been built in 2000, and cost $1 billion to construct. It’s unusual on this list in that it doesn’t cover a body of water, but it does carry a six-lane highway above another highway.
Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge (China)
Connecting the cities of Zhengzhou and Xi’an on the Zhengzhou–Xi’an High-Speed Railway, the Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge crosses the Wei, Luofu, Xi, Shi Di, and Ling rivers. It was briefly the longest bridge in the world when it was completed in 2008, but its 49.5 miles were quickly surpassed.
Tianjin Grand Bridge (China)
At 70.2 miles long, this railway viaduct spanning from Langfang and Qingxian is also part of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway. It was completed in 2010, after four years of construction, and has been used continuously since 2011.
Cangde Grand Bridge (China)
Can you guess which high-speed railway the Cangde Grand Bridge is part of? If you guessed Beijing–Shanghai, you’re right on the money. Said railway runs 819 miles, hence the need for so many proportionally huge bridges. This one comes in at 72 miles long and has 3,092 piers.
Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct (Taiwan)
A viaduct completed in 2007, the Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct is part of the Taiwan High Speed Rail network and is 97.8 miles long. It was built to withstand earthquakes, as this part of Taiwan is known for its seismic activity.
Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge (China)
At a whopping 102.4 miles long, the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is the longest in the world — and probably will be for some time to come. (Do we even need to mention that it’s part of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway at this point?) Carrying a price tag of $8.5 billion (or $83 million per mile), it was built to withstand seismic activity, extreme weather, and impact with very large boats (just in case). Constructed over a five-year period between 2006 and 2011, it stands at an average height of 328 feet.
Michael Nordine is a writer and editor living in Denver. A native Angeleno, he has two cats and wishes he had more.
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