The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is a 102-mile railway viaduct in China, connecting two of the country’s largest cities, and is the longest bridge in the world
The world’s longest bridge spans over 100 miles and takes travellers two hours to traverse. The colossal Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is a railway viaduct in China and links two of the nation’s major cities.
Situated between Shanghai and Nanjing, the bridge forms part of the bustling Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway route. Work on the bridge commenced in 2006 and was completed five years later at a staggering cost of $8.5 billion (£6.4billion).
This translates to an approximate expenditure of $51 million (£38.6million) per mile of the route.
Not only is the bridge a national icon, but it was also constructed to safeguard the land beneath it, a region abundant with rivers and rice fields. For most of its length, the renowned bridge runs parallel to China’s Yangtze River.
Due to its proximity to the river, the bridge was designed to mimic its natural curvature, resulting in an unusual shape. The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge also spans the breathtaking waters of Yangcheng lake for just over five miles, reports the Express.
Prior to the bridge’s construction, train journeys between Ningbo and Jiaxing would take four and a half hours. However, thanks to this new architectural marvel, the journey now takes merely two hours, offering passengers spectacular views along the way.
The bridge has now revolutionised travel, making it possible to cover the 1,000 kilometres (621 miles) between Beijing and Shanghai in just 4 hours and 48 minutes. Despite China’s susceptibility to severe weather events, a number of safety measures were incorporated into the bridge during its construction.
Experts have confirmed that the bridge was constructed to the highest anti-seismic standards, ensuring it can withstand earthquakes. Moreover, the viaduct is also designed to endure collisions from the numerous ships that traverse beneath the bridge daily.
Not only has this new transport link significantly boosted the area’s productivity, but it has also become somewhat of a landmark. Thanks to the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge’s status as a record-breaking structure, tourists often seek out the bridge as an attraction.
The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge isn’t the only incredible architectural feat produced by China in recent years.
The world’s highest bridge was recently opened in Guizhou province. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge has slashed journey times from two hours down to just two minutes, according to local state media.
It boasts an incredible deck-to-surface measurement of 625 metres – more than half a kilometre – making it tower above the previous record holder.