The longest suspension bridge in the Swiss Alps. The longest suspension bridge in the world Skybridge - sky bridge
The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, also known as the Pearl Bridge, links the city of Kobe on the Honshu-Shikoku mainland with Iwaya on Awaji Island in Japan. Crosses the busy Akashi Strait.
It carries part of the Honshu-Shikoku Highway. Since its completion in 1998, the bridge has had the longest central span of any suspension bridge in the world at 1,991 metres. The total cost is estimated at 500 billion yen.
2. Xihoumen Bridge, Zhoushan, Zhejiang Province, China
Built in the Zhoushan Archipelago, this bridge was completed in December 2007 but opened to the public in December 2009. Its unsupported length is 1650 meters, and its cost is up to $363 million.
It connects the islands of Jintang and Cezi. It was built by Dorman Long Technology Limited.
3. Great Belt Bridge
Located between the islands of Funen and Zealand, This magnificent suspension bridge has an unsupported length of 1624 meters. It was designed according to the Danish architectural practice Dissing + Weitling.
The parcel replaces the ferry service that was the main means of crossing the Great Belt. It was built between 1991-1998 and E. Pihl & Søn AS was the general contractor on this bridge.
4. Osman Ghazi Bridge
The Osman Ghazi Bridge crosses the Bay of Izmit, part of the expanded highway system connecting Izmir and Istanbul. Which reduces the time accordingly the journey is approximately 6 hours.
The suspension bridge has 1,550 meters between bridges and a total length of about three kilometers. The bridge was built in one of the most seismically active areas in the world, which places additional demands on the bridge design.
5. Li Sunxin Bridge
The Lee Sunsin Bridge is a suspension bridge on the coast of South Korea. The bridge is part of the Yeosu Industrial Complex Access Road.
Since its opening in 2012, it is the fifth longest suspension bridge in the world, according to along the length of the main span of 1545 m. The bridge connects Gwangyang to Myododong, a small island that is part of the city of Yeosu.
6. Rongyang North Bridge
This bridge carries people across the Yangtze River in Jiangsu Province, China. It consists of two main bridges that connect Zhenjiang in the south of the river and Yangzhou in the north. The bridge is part of the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway. Its the longest the span has 1490 meters between columns.
The towers are located at an altitude of 215 meters above the water level, and the main span of the bridge consists of a beam with an orthotropic steel frame, the depth of which is 3 meters, and the deck width has reached 40 meters. The contractors for this project were China Road and Bridge Co. and Dorman Long Technology Limited.
7. Nanjing Bridge
The Nanjing Yangtze River Bridge, which was built between 1960 and 1968, is the third bridge to cross the Yangtze River after the Wuhan-Yangtze River Bridge and the Baisha To Yangtze River Bridge in Chongqing City.
Being the longest bridge with dual function of highway and railway, listed in the Guinness Book of World Records, it is the first bridge in China designed and built exclusively by the Chinese.
8. Humber Bridge
Located near Kingston upon Hull in England, it stretches between Barton upon Humber on the south bank and Hessle on the north bank, connecting the East Riding of Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. The consulting engineers on the project were Freeman Fox and Partners and the contractor was Sir William Arrol and Co.
Its length is 1410 meters. The towers are hollow vertical concrete columns, each 155 meters high, and the bridge is designed to withstand constant traffic and bends more than 3 meters in the wind at a speed of 80 miles per hour.
There are almost enough wires in overhead cables to circle the Earth twice. It was considered the longest suspension bridge from 1981 to 1997.
9. Jiangyin Bridge
Cleveland Bridge was the main contractor for the construction of the suspension system and main deck of this 1385 m long suspension bridge - the longest bridge in China.
The Jiangyin Bridge is the fastest maritime crossing of the Yangtze River, carrying a three-lane river. Movement across this river occurs using a 50-meter navigation clearance.
10. Qingma Bridge
Impressive by day and twinkling lights at night, the Tsingma Bridge is an engineering marvel linking Lantau Island to the rest of Hong Kong. Bridge length 2.16 km was opened to traffic in 1997 as part of key infrastructure serving the new airport on Lantau Island, and has since become popular with local tourists.
As the longest suspension bridge carrying rail and road traffic in the world, the Qing Ma Bridge takes its name from the districts at both ends: Qing Yi and Ma Wan.
In the event of a particularly strong typhoon hitting Hong Kong and closing the bridge's six lanes of traffic, the two railway lines and two road lanes enclosed underneath it can still operate and transport passengers and their luggage to and from the airport.
Construction stages can be divided into the following stages:
1. Creation of supports for pylons
2. Creation of coastal supports
3. Construction of pylons
4. Pulling the supporting cables
5. Suspension of bridge trusses
Let's start with the first stage.
The bridge pylons are located in the sea strait, more than 60 meters deep. First of all, special vessels extracted bottom soil in the areas where the supports would be installed.
At the same time, huge floating hollow cylinders were built on the shore, which were transported by water and sunk in dug pits. The height of the cylinders exceeded sixty meters, so that they rose above the water. Moreover, such colossuses had to be installed in the required positions with centimeter precision, which was successfully accomplished by Japanese engineers.
After installing the forms of future supports, special water-insoluble concrete began to be poured inside them.
At the same time, the construction of foundations for coastal supports - anchors for securing cables - took place on the shore. They differ slightly in design depending on the coast. For the western support, a very deep seventy-meter pit was dug, the walls of which, as they walked, were encased in concrete. This depth, if my memory serves me correctly, is due to the desire to go through sedimentary rocks to solid layers. By the way, on the other side, the depth of the pit was only twenty-three and a half meters.
After excavation, a metal frame-foundation was built in the shaft and filled with concrete. Then the already assembled future cable-stay fastening unit was installed at the top, tightly connecting it to the foundation.
And immediately they began to build walls around it.
At the same time, pylons were built. They were not cast from concrete, but assembled from metal elements. Inside there are elevators, stairs, and vibration compensation pendulums. The latter is an important element of almost all modern Japanese high-rise structures, due to high seismicity. By moving a massive load, such a device allows you to eliminate dangerous deviations from the vertical, maintaining the strength and integrity of the structure.
After completing the installation of both pylons, workers began pulling the cables. The very first thing, a helicopter transferred the primary cable - essentially a strong centimeter-long plastic rope, onto which, later, they began to gradually hang all the others, increasing the number of threads. To do this, the cable being pulled was attached to the primary cable and began to be pulled. Unwinding from the reel, he pulled the attached cable along with him. After pulling several parallel threads, a temporary fabric was laid on them, along which the workers could walk. After installing the walkways, they began to stretch the threads of the supporting cables and so, gradually, the main cables were assembled, holding the entire weight of the canvas. They have a diameter of 1122 mm and consist of many hexagonal elements, each of which, in turn, consists of 127 steel threads, each with a diameter of 5.23 mm. The total length of all threads (on two cables) is one light second.
The outside of the cables is wrapped with several layers of insulation. At ground supports, the threads are separated, attaching their ends to the attachment points.
The final stage was the suspension of the roadway trusses. Farms are very complex, because inside them there is a place for the prospect of a railway line. The truss elements were transported by sea, then lifted up by cranes, where they were assembled and mounted to the suspension points.
Today, the bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world: its total length is 3911 meters, the central span is 1991 meters long, and the side spans are 960 meters long. The height of the pylons is 298 meters, which is higher than a 90-story building. Due to its size, the Pearl Bridge was twice included in the Guinness Book of Records. The bridge design has a system of double-hinged stiffening beams, which allows it to withstand wind speeds of up to 80 m/s, earthquakes of magnitude up to 8.5 and resist strong sea currents. Special pendulum systems are also used that operate at the resonant frequency of the bridge structure.
Photo 6. 
Currently, only the upper part of the span structures is used to move cars, but there is also a lower technical floor, where, in the future, a railway track can be laid. From the lower level you can get inside the pylons, and then go out to their tops, from where you can see a beautiful view of Kobe and the sea. On the Kobe side there is a specially built concrete promenade 317 meters long so that you can admire the views from the bridge and the bridge itself. In Japan, when something huge is built, a museum of this structure appears nearby. The Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge Museum also appeared, in which the Japanese reproduced in models the entire history of construction from the beginning of digging pits to tensioning the cables. The operation of this miracle bridge is designed for at least 200 years.
Bridges are not only original structures, but also masterpieces of construction art. Many buildings are surprising in size, reaching unimaginable heights. Thanks to modern technology, such designs make life easier. The article presents bridges, the creation of which took years of fruitful work by the most talented architects and builders.
Gustave Flaubert Bridge – 91 m
The highest drawbridge in Europe was created in 2008 on the Seine River. The design features allow not only sailing ships, but also motor ships to navigate it. The structure is erected at least 30 times a year. The space between the floors below retains the sun's rays, supporting the natural ecosystem.
Oliveira – 138 m
The beautiful bridge of Brazil is distinguished by a support similar to the silhouette of the letter X. It is considered the main symbol of Sao Paulo. The grand opening took place in 2008. A little later, the cables and masts of the bridge were decorated with light diodes, creating the effect of a Christmas tree. The structure bears the name of the influential publisher of the Fola newspaper.
Harbor Bridge – 139 m
The Australian Arch Bridge is one of the sights of Sydney. Due to its funny shape, residents gave it the name “hanger”. Construction was completed in 1932, using the New York Hell Gate as a model. On hot days, the arch increases by 18 cm, as the metal expands when heated. Since 1998, Sydneysiders have been allowed to climb the structure as a guided tour.
Qingdao Bridge – 149 m
The structure was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest bridge over water. The initial goal is to connect two industrial regions. Thanks to the construction, it is easy to get to the airport and shorten the road to the Yellow and Red Islands. Construction took 4 years, using the amount of steel and concrete equivalent to 65 Eiffel Towers. The bridge, standing on 5,130 concrete piles, can withstand magnitude 8 earthquakes, as well as typhoons and tsunamis.
Interesting!
According to the builders, the structure will last at least 100 years.
Golden Gate – 227 m
The famous San Francisco suspension bridge. Its creation began in 1933 and lasted more than 4 years. The building has a sad record for suicides. According to statistics, one person jumps from the structure every month.
Interesting!
Traveling south on the Golden Gate Highway costs $6, traveling north is free.
Jiujiang Yangtze River Expressway – 244 m
The cable-stayed bridge across the Yangtze River took just over three years to build. The opening took place at the end of October 2013. The structure has 6 traffic lanes, including areas for cyclists, rickshaws, and pedestrians. The floor slabs are supported on both sides by steel strings. From a distance, the base resembles evenly spaced tuning forks.
The construction runs along the Shanghai-Chongqing Highway. The maximum span size is 460 m. The height reached 134 m, but when the dam was built, the distance to the water level increased. The half-kilometer gaps are supported by a network of cables. Molybdenum lubricant was used to weave bridge ropes.
Great Belt – 254 m
Built over the strait of the same name, the construction connects two Danish islands: Funen and Zealand. Officially opened in 1998, but improvement work took another 1.5 years. From an architectural point of view, the bridge is unusual and does not look like other infrastructure highways. High-rise supports were added only in the eastern part. The ends of the bridge are reinforced with reinforced concrete beams.
– 256 mThe construction of the automobile viaduct lasted 7 years. The crossing connects the provinces of Yueyang and Hubei. In terms of technical indicators, it is the leader in the ranking of suspension bridges. Half of the arc-shaped structure stretches out over the shallow water. At the bottom of the main 500-meter span, cargo and passenger ships ply.
Tsiubey – 262 m
Represents part of the route of the Nanning-Kunming Railway. A vast arc stretches over the Nanpanjiang River, decorating the 710 km long road. The central span of the bridge is the third longest concrete vault in the world. The state allocated 400 million yuan for the construction of the bridge.
Jingyue – 264 m
The Chinese structure resembles a bridge connecting Yueyang and Jingzhou counties. Refers to the cable-stayed type, where H-shaped pylons are installed. The total size is 1120 m, the length of the main span is 816. The highway is divided into six lanes. The final construction period ended in 2010.
Named after the South Korean general. The preparation was carried out by the Yooshino company, and the construction by Daelim Industrial. The structure is a decoration of the sea harbor; at night thousands of lights light up here. Thanks to the transport line, the road between Yeosu and Gwangyang shopping centers has been shortened.
Shuihai – 275 m
The structure extends on the road connecting the towns of Baigou and Liupanshui. It is thrown across the Beipanjiang River, which flows through a deep gorge. In 2001, the bridge occupied the second position among structures of this type. The length of the railway line is 118 cm, but 65% is viaducts and tunnels.
Akashi-Kaikyo – 282 m
The cable-stayed bridge connecting the islands of Shikoku and Honshu is the largest in Asia. The decision to build it was made in the 80s of the 20th century, after a ferry crash and loss of life. During the project, they found a formula for concrete that does not dissolve when it gets into a liquid. The material was used for columns placed at the bottom of the strait. The structure is characterized by resistance to storms and earthquakes of 8.5 points.
Stonecutters – 298 m
Located in Khuai Ching County, crossing the Rambler Strait. The construction of the canvas was completed in 2009, and in 2010 it was awarded an award at an engineering competition. The Stone Cutting Bridge connects Lantau Island Airport with parts of Hong Kong. The cable-stayed structure combines rigid supports and steel cables. Construction costs amounted to $3 billion.
Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge – 300 m
A pedestrian viaduct has been built in Hunan National Park. The amazing design consists of 99 translucent tiles. An Israeli architect was responsible for the luxurious construction. Testing included the following stages:
- Reliability test. They hit the slabs with a sledgehammer, drove in cars with passengers;
- Swaying in windy conditions;
- Changes in ambient temperature.
Interesting!
More than 800 visitors at a time are not allowed to enter the bridge.
Sutun – 306 m
The viaduct was built in the Yangtze River Delta 11 years ago. The Chinese government allocated $1.7 billion for the bridge. The combined structure connects the urban counties of Changshu and Nantong. River shipping vessels ply the waters below. The highway is popular with tourists who come to admire the picturesque panorama.
Modern architecture can amaze not only with its beauty, but also with the grandeur of its design. Suspension bridges occupy a special place in it. These structures provide connections in hard-to-reach places and can extend for several kilometers. The longest suspension bridge in the world is located between the Japanese islands of Honshu and Awaji. It passes through the Akashi Strait.
Akashi-Kaike Bridge - the longest suspension bridge on the planet
The connection between the Japanese islands of Honshu and Awaji was quite problematic. Until 1998, communication between the islands was provided by ferries. But due to frequent storms, storms and powerful currents, ferry crossings posed a serious danger and often led to casualties. The most serious disaster here occurred in 1955: two ferries ended up at the bottom of the strait, and the number of victims was in the hundreds. To make the connection between the islands safe, it was decided to begin construction of a huge suspension bridge.
The construction of Akashi-Kaike started in 1988 and ended ten years later. To begin with, it was necessary to build huge pylons, the base of which was located at the bottom of the strait. For this project, a brand of concrete was created that would not dissolve in water at the time of pouring. Minor delays in the construction of the bridge arose due to the earthquake that occurred in 1995. But after a month's break, work resumed.
Today, a suspension bridge allows you to cross the strait in complete safety. It is designed to withstand the strongest storms and earthquakes, and withstand currents and storms. The design is simply amazing in its size:
- total length of Akashi-Kaike – 3911 m;
- the pylons rise 298 m above the surface;
- main span length – 1991 m;
- the length of cables used in construction is 200 km.
Xihoumen Bridge
The second longest suspension bridge is in China. Its construction in the Zhoushan Archipelago was initiated by Zhejiang Province. After the creation of the project in 2004, the construction of the structure began. After 5 years of hard work, the bridge was put into operation. Its total length is 2600 meters, and the main span is 1650m. The pylons holding the bridge rise 233 m above the surface. Each of them is supported by 12 piles, the diameter of which is 2.8 m.
Today, thanks to the Sihoumen Bridge, you can get from about. Jintang to o. Tsetzi. The speed of movement is limited by design: you can drive at speeds up to 80 km/h.
The Great Belt Suspension Bridge is striking in its size. It is located in Denmark and is the leader in length among similar structures in Europe. The Great Belt provides a road transport connection between the islands of Funen and Zealand. Construction of the bridge started in 1988 and lasted about 10 years. The total length of the bridge is 6,790 m, and the length of the main span is 1,624 m. The pylons located in the strait are 233 m high. These are hollow structures, the walls of which are made of reinforced concrete.
The importance of the Great Belt Bridge can hardly be overestimated; it not only connects the islands of Denmark, but also significantly shortens the route from continental Europe to Scandinavia.
In 2016, the construction of a suspension bridge was completed in Turkey, which ranked fourth in length among similar structures. It passes over the Gulf of Izmit and is a continuation of the highway connecting the largest cities of Gebze and Bursa. The total length of the structure is 2,682 m, and the length of the main span is 1,550 m. Construction of the bridge began in 2013. Despite the complexity of the design, the builders managed to complete the work in just 3 years.
Li Sunxin Bridge
The fifth longest suspension bridge is located in the Republic of Korea. It provides connections between the cities of Yeosu and Gwangyang, located in the southern part of the Korean Peninsula. The length of the entire structure is 2,260 m, and the main span is 1,545 m long. Construction of the bridge began in 2007, and five years later the structure was put into operation.
Hongyang Bridge
In the Jiangsu province of China, there is the sixth longest suspension bridge, crossing the Yangtze River. Thanks to the design, a connection was established between the major Chinese cities of Yangzhou and Zhenjiang. The construction of the structure lasted more than 4.5 years. The first cars drove across the bridge in 2005. The length of the entire structure is 3,566 m, and the main span is 1,490 m.
Seventh place in the category of the longest suspension bridges on the planet is occupied by the Fourth Nanjing Bridge. Its construction made it possible to provide connections between areas of the Chinese metropolis Nanjing. The main span of the structure passes over the Yangtze River and has a length of 1,418 m. The total length of the bridge is 5,437 m. Thanks to the bridge, commissioned in 2012, the transport interchange of the city of Nanjing has been simplified.
Humber Bridge
One of the leading places went to the Humber Bridge. It is located in England and passes over the Humber Estuary, after which it was named. It provides a connection between East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. The Humber Bridge began operating in 1981, and for more than 16 years it was a leader among similar structures. Its total length is 2,220 m, and the length of the main span is 1,410 m.
In Turkey, in 2016, after three years of construction, a bridge began operating, which is one of the ten longest suspension bridges in the world. It passes over the Bosphorus Strait near Istanbul. Part of the structure is supported by screws, and part is held suspended by cables. The length of the entire bridge is 2,164 m, and the main span is 1,408 m. The structure holds the record for width - 58.4 m.
To accommodate traffic between China's expressways, the Jiangyin Bridge was built across the Yangtze River. Its construction began in 1995 and lasted about 4 years. The length of the entire bridge is 3,071 m, and the main span is 1,384 m. The base of the central span is a single steel plate, the weight of which exceeds 500 tons.
The recent construction of a suspension bridge in Switzerland from the Glacier 3000 peak to the Scex Rouge peak is another example of how these structures are increasingly being designed not just to overcome difficult obstacles, but also to provide thrills.
This article will help you closely study the Swiss innovation and see other amazing structures scattered across different parts of the world.
Walk along the slopes of the Titlis Mountains (Switzerland, Bernese Oberland)
The world's first pedestrian suspension bridge connected two mountain peaks of the 3000-meter-high Titlis Mountains in Switzerland in the town of Berner Oberland. From the observation deck of the 107-meter wonder you can admire views of Montbalan, Metterhorn, Eiger, Monch and Jungfrau.
SkyBridge (Russia, Sochi)
The world's longest pedestrian bridge has become a new attraction in the city of Sochi. It has platforms for fans of bungee jumping (jumping from a height on a cable), a giant swing and a 700-meter cable car. Here you can not only engage in extreme sports, but also enjoy breathtaking views of the Black Sea.
Pic du Midi (France, Mont Blanc)
The bridge connects the northern and southern peaks of the Pca du Midi in the French Alps. The road to suspended perfection includes the world's highest vertical lift on a cable car. From the bridge, visitors will be able to see the mountain ranges of three countries: France, Switzerland and Italy.
Bamboo suspension bridge (Philippines, Bohol)
Its structure is not at all as fragile as it might seem. In fact, it is made of metal, and only the top layer of cables was decorated with bamboo to give the structure a historical look. On the bank of the river, above which the building rises, there is a stall where they sell hats, like those of the famous Indiana Jones. Having transformed into a hero, you can feel like a real treasure hunter.
Bridge in Taman Negara (Malaysia)
Malaysia's longest (530 meters) and narrow bridge is located in Taman Negara National Park and passes over the treetops. For the peace of mind of visitors, this delicate structure is tested for strength every morning.
Capilano (Canada, Vancouver)
This wonderful suspended structure is called Capilano and stretches for 137 meters above the river. It was designed by a Scottish engineer named George Grant MacKay in 1889, but was completely redesigned 67 years later. The adrenaline attraction is very popular among locals and tourists; it attracts 700 thousand guests every year.
Gasa Suspension Bridge (Nepal)
The air structure is in great demand not only among people, but also among domestic animals: donkeys, cows and goats. Actually, it was built for the movement of cattle so that they do not create interference on the narrow roads of Nepal.
Thrift Bridge (Switzerland, Gadmen)
The Swiss walking wonder floats in the air above the lake of the same name and allows tourists to see the glacier. The length of the structure is 170 meters, and the structure takes its base from traditional Nepalese rope bridges.
Royal Path (Spain)
El Caminito del Rey stretches over the El Choro gorge. Perhaps a walk along such a “bridge” will be the most extreme pastime. The path is only a meter wide and rises more than 100 meters above the river. Despite the danger, the trail has won the hearts of many travelers, and major renovations have brought a new wave of people wanting a fantastic experience.
Maria Bridge (Germany, Bavaria)
This hanging wonder of Marienbrücke is located just a few meters from the beautiful Neuschwanstein Castle in Bavaria above the Pellat gorge. The suspended structure was named after Maria, the wife of King Maximilian II and the mother of King Louis II, who built the fortress.
Louis II wanted the castle and the bridge to fit together better, so he replaced the wooden railings with iron ones.
Carrick-a-Rede (Northern Ireland, County Antrim)
The original purpose of building the overpass was to help fishermen cross the gorge without hindrance to check their catch in their nets. But the bridge soon became one of the main attractions of Northern Ireland. Daredevils love to perform tricks on it. For example, doing a handstand.
The ancient ruins of Ehrenberg Castle and Fort Claudia in Reutte are connected by the 403-meter Highline Bridge 179. The official opening will make it the world's longest pedestrian suspended structure.
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