The bridge is one of the most ancient inventions of mankind. Bridges have become a kind of symbol of human self-affirmation and overcoming the forces of nature. Thanks to them, travel time is reduced, and the trade and strategic importance becomes simply colossal.
According to their carrying capacity, bridges are divided into railway, pedestrian, automobile and combined. According to the static design, bridges can be beam, pontoon, spacer or truss. TravelAsk presents the 10 longest suspension bridges included in the category of bracing systems. The main distinguishing feature of such bridges is their supporting structure, which is made of flexible braces. Thanks to it, the roadway can be in a so-called suspended state.
Mackinac Bridge (or "Big Mac")
The bridge is located in America and runs over the Straits of Mackinac, which connects Lakes Huron and Michigan. The length of its main span is 1158 meters.
Hyogakustenbron Bridge
Swiss bridge crossing the Ongermanälven river. The length of the main span is 1210 meters.
Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge was built in . It connects San Francisco in the north of the peninsula with southern Marin County. Its main span is 1280 meters long.
Verrazano Bridge
Another American bridge. Connects the New York boroughs of Brooklyn and Staten Island. The length of the main span is 1298 meters.
Qingma Bridge
The Tsingma Bridge is located in Hong Kong and serves as a connection between Tsing Yi Island in the east and Ma Wan Island in the west. It has a main span of 1377 meters.
Humber Bridge
This single span suspension bridge is located in the UK. It connects East Yorkshire and North Lincolnshire. The length of the main span is 1410 meters.
Hongyang Bridge
The main span of this Chinese bridge is 1490 meters. It connects two ancient cities– Yangzhou and Zhenjiang.
Great Belt Bridge
The Great Belt Bridge in Denmark is really big - its main span is 1624 meters long. It crosses the strait of the same name and connects the islands of Funen and Zealand.
Xihoumen Bridge
The Chinese tried hard and built the second longest bridge in the world, the main span of which is 1650 meters. The bridge connects Jintang Island and Cezi Islands.
Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge
Only the Japanese surpassed China. Their Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge, crossing the Akashi Strait, is considered the longest in the world, because its main span reaches 1991 meters.
Skypark AJ Hackett Sochi is a complex of extreme entertainment at altitude, located in the Adler district of Sochi. The opening of the adventure park at altitude took place quite recently, in June 2014.
The main part of the AJ Hackett Sochi skypark complex is a suspension bridge with observation platforms from where the sea and mountains are visible. This is the longest suspended pedestrian bridge in the world with the largest rope jumping system. The project, unique in its size and architectural forms, is announced in.
1. The park is being completed, but is already functioning.
2. The bridge is located in the gorge towards Krasnaya Polyana.
4. A bungee jumping center has been set up in front of the bridge.
5. From here I jumped with a rope 67 meters long!
6. We go out onto the bridge.
7. Walking there and back takes more than a kilometer.
8. Let's look down. Not scary?
9. Visitors to the bridge.
10. Safety net so that no one drops theirs.
11. Fall down more than 200 meters.
12. Recently, on September 5, they opened the opportunity to jump down with a rope 207 meters long! This is the highest height for bungee jumping in Russia and Europe. There are only a few of these in the world.
13. The bridge is held in place by eight metal cables weighing 700 tons. The total weight of the bridge structure is 120 tons, the length of the suspended part is 439 m.
14. Do not smoke while jumping.
16. The total length of the bridge is 520 meters, height - 218 meters. On the bridge are located observation decks, from where the sea and mountains are visible.
17. Yes! We reached one direction.
18. I really like these designs.
19. Joint project, Russian-New Zealand. The bridge itself was designed by the Russians, and the parts for it were manufactured at Energomash.
20. View towards Krasnaya Polyana.
21. On such a bridge it is very useful to fight the fear of heights.
23. There is beauty all around!
Anyone who has traveled across chasms many times with movie characters can now overcome their fear and conquer space in reality by walking along the SkyBridge - the longest suspended pedestrian bridge in the world: its length is 439 meters.
The SkyBridge is located in a picturesque place in the Akhshtyr Gorge above the Mzymta River at an altitude of 207 meters above the ground.
A walk along the bridge will bring a lot of emotions to every guest of the park: from excitement to delight. Walking across the bridge to the other side of the gorge, you will enjoy panoramic views of incredible beauty. On one side of the bridge you will see snow-capped peaks Caucasus Mountains, on the other - the Black Sea coast.
The ambitious bridge project was developed jointly by Russian and New Zealand architects. Design and research took 3 years. Construction lasted 2 years. 740 tons of metal structures and 2,000 cubic meters of concrete were used in the construction of the bridge. SkyBridge is designed according to all safety standards with large supply: It is capable of withstanding a magnitude 9 earthquake, hurricane winds, rain, snow and icing at the same time.
Skybridge is intended both for visiting tourists for hiking and enjoying panoramic views, and for entertaining fans of bungee jumping. From a special launch pad you can make a bungee jump 69 meters long - this attraction is called “Bungy 69 m”.
There are two viewing platforms on the bridge. One of them is in the middle of the structure. This is where the main attractions of SKYPARK are located for thrill-seekers - BUNGY 69m, BUNGY 207m, SochiSwing 170m, MegaTroll 150 km/h. And every visitor to the park from the bridge will be able to watch jumps and flights over the gorge. Or maybe he’ll decide to take the leap himself. 
- SkyBridge is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world with a length of 439 m at an altitude of 207 m.
- No age or weight restrictions
- No safety equipment required
- Entrance to the bridge is included in the price of the skypass
The Skybridge was designed jointly by Russian and New Zealand architects and built as part of the AJ Hackett Skypark. The bridge is held in place by eight metal cables weighing 700 tons; its construction took 2 years and 2,000 cubic meters of concrete. The project has passed all the required tests and is recognized as safe: the bridge can withstand an earthquake of up to 9 points and the simultaneous presence of three thousand people.
In the future, the organizers plan to expand the range of pleasures and introduce tandem jumping, skiing, cycling, snowboarding and even wheelchair jumping.
On February 7, 2014, a whole range of extreme entertainment will open
— AJ Hackett Sochi. The AJ Hackett project has existed since 1988, with only this moment There are 5 similar sites in Germany, France, China, Australia and Singapore.
Bungy jumping (Bungy) - there will be two options - jumping from a special platform located at a height of 60 meters, designed for various jumping options. For the more daring, jump from a gondola in the middle of the bridge, which hangs 200 meters above the ground - this is the highest height for bungee jumping in Russia (there is a higher height in the world only in China - 233 meters)!
Pendulum (Swing) - this giant swing with a radius of 160 meters is the largest in the world, it will take you out of your comfort zone and make you scream.
Climbing wall 18 meters high. There will be training opportunities for both beginners and professional climbers.
Trolley (Flying Fox) - Two stretched cables, one 550 meters long and the other 800 meters long, across a gorge.
Modern architecture tries to keep up with ancient architecture not only in the beauty of its implementation, but also in the grandeur of its plans. This fully applies to suspension bridges, which are often built in the most hard to reach places, and the length of which can exceed a kilometer. This refers to the length of one span, and not the entire bridge structure in total.
1. Akashi-Kaikyo (1991 m, Japan)
Akashi-Kaikyo is the longest suspension bridge in the world, which spans the Akashi Strait and connects the city of Kobe, located on the island of Honshu, with the city of the same name located on the island of Awaji. It became the third highway connecting Shikoku and Honshu. Before the appearance of this bridge, a ferry service operated in the Akashi Strait, but it often turned out to be dangerous due to the fact that strong storms often occur in the strait. For example, in 1955 alone, 2 ferries sank here as a result of a storm, and 168 children became victims of this disaster.
At first, the Japanese wanted to build a double bridge - a road and a railway bridge, but in 1986, after the start of preparatory work, the project was reduced, leaving only a 6-lane road bridge. Construction actually began in 1988 and continued for a decade. First, two concrete foundations for the bridge pylons were installed at the bottom of the strait. Two huge round shapes were collected on the shore, after which they were sunk in the right places. This had to be done very accurately, fighting the strong current in the strait, but the installers coped with this task with honor, not allowing deviations of more than 10 cm. To build the bridge, they developed a special recipe for concrete that would not be carried away by sea water when poured.
The next important step was tensioning the cables. To do this, it was necessary to stretch a guide cable from one pylon to another, which was done using a helicopter. Both cables were stretched by 1995, after which it was time to prepare the roadway. But suddenly, on January 17, 1995, a strong earthquake with a magnitude of 7.3 occurred in the Kobe area. The pylons successfully withstood it, but not the bottom of the strait, which shifted slightly, dragging one of the pylons with it by 1 meter. All calculations turned out to be violated. Engineers proposed making the roadway beams longer and increasing the distance between the cables hanging from the main cables. After a delay of only a month, construction work continued, and in 1998 the roadway was also ready.
The bridge cost the Japanese 500 billion yen, so the toll for crossing it turned out to be rather high - 2,300 yen. Every day 25,000 cars pass through it, although there are people who, in order to save money, still use the ferry or travel by bus.
Castles are defensive structures that combine not only residential buildings, but also fortifications. Most often castles were called...
2. Xihoumen (1650 m, China)
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The Xihoumen Suspension Bridge was built between the Jintan and Tsezi Islands of the Chinese Zhoushan Archipelago. Its construction began in 2005. Its main span was built at the end of 2007, and at the end of 2009 the bridge was already operational in test mode, and then the first car drove across it. The length of the main span became the second in the world among suspended structures. Due to a collision between a ship and a bridge support, its opening was delayed by about a month. The total length of all elements of the bridge is 5.3 km, its main part is 2.6 km, and the main section is 1.65 km. Longer bridges are currently being designed or already under construction. The construction of the Xihoumen Bridge was financed by Zhejiang Province, which spent almost 2.5 billion yuan on it.
3. Great Belt (1624 m, Denmark)
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The Great Belt suspension bridge in Denmark is amazing in its scale. It rightfully became the longest of its kind in Europe. The Great Belt Bridge passes over the strait of the same name and connects the islands of Zealand and Funen. Its construction began in 1988 and ended in 1998. The total cost of the project reached DKK 21.4 billion. After the bridge was put into operation, travel time between the islands was reduced by more than an hour, and freight and passenger traffic between the western and eastern parts Denmark has grown significantly. If previously up to 8,000 cars crossed the strait on the ferry every day, now 27,600 of them cross the bridge.
This bridge is of great importance for the whole of Denmark as a whole. Thanks to its appearance, the journey from the capital Copenhagen to different cities began to take much less time: to Odense - 75 minutes, to Aarhus - 2.5 hours, to Aalborg - about 4 hours. The presence of the bridge made it possible to abandon domestic air travel between the capital and Odense, Aalborg, Aarhus, and Esbjerg. Now the main transport on all these routes has become the train.
The Great Belt and Øresund bridges provided a land connection between Scandinavia and continental Europe. Since the bridge, there has been significantly more travel by car and train between eastern Denmark and Germany, Germany and Sweden. The Great Belt became the first and so far the only Danish toll road; in 2013, you could drive along it in a passenger car for 33 euros or 235 Danish kroner.
4. Osman Gazi Bridge (1550 m, Türkiye)
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In Turkey, the construction of the very long Osman Ghazi suspension bridge was completed in 2016. This bridge spans the Gulf of Izmit and carries the highway between the major Turkish cities of Bursa and Gebze. The total length of this bridge reaches 2682 m, and the main span is 1550 m. Construction began in 2013 and, despite the complexity of its design, the work took only about 3 years.
5. Lee Sunsin (1545 m, Republic of Korea)
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On the southern coast of the Korean Peninsula, across the harbor separating the cities of Yeosu and Gwangyang, there is the Lee Sunsin Suspension Bridge, the main span of which is one of the ten longest similar structures in the world and is the leader in the longest South Korea. The road leading to the Yeosu Industrial Complex runs along it. The bridge was named in honor of the Korean naval commander Lee Sunsin. The total length of the bridge is 2260 m. Construction began on it in 2007, and five years later cars began running across it.
6. Zhunyang (1490 m, China)
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The Yangtze River in the Chinese province of Jiangsu is crossed by a complex bridge structure, the southern part of which is the Zhunyang Suspension Bridge. This place is located 45 kilometers east of Nanjing. In addition to the suspension bridge, the complex has a cable-stayed bridge located to the north. They are elements of the expressway connecting Beijing and Shanghai. The name of the bridge combines the beginnings of two names - Zhunzhou (now Zhenjiang) and Yangzhou.
When the Zhunyang Suspension Bridge was built in 2005, its 1,490-meter main span became the second longest in China and the fourth longest in the world. The bridge's pylons soar to a height of 215 meters, its width is 39.2 meters, its road surface accommodates 6 lanes for cars and two more narrow sidewalks along the edges of the bridge, intended for technical purposes. On average, the road surface of this bridge hangs 50 meters above the water surface.
7. Fourth Nanjing Bridge (1418 m, China)
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The fourth Nanjing Bridge spans the mighty Yangtze River and its tributary Baimiao. It connects two neighboring areas big city Nanjing - Qixia and Luhe. In terms of the length of the main span, it took third place in China, and its total length reaches 5437 meters. The height of the main pylons of this suspension bridge reaches 229 meters. The bridge has two approaches, between which the main suspension span over the Yangtze bed is wedged. After this, the section above the land begins and another crossing of the river - now a tributary of the Baimiao.
For Jiangsu Province, the Fourth Nanjing Bridge was the first bridge with a suspension structure. Thanks to its appearance, the transport situation in such a huge city as Nanjing has been significantly simplified. It not only connected urban areas, but also connected expressways between Shanghai and Nanjing and between Nantong and Nanjing through the ring road. There are 6 traffic lanes on the bridge - three in each direction; cars can reach speeds of up to 125 kilometers per hour. The cost of this project reached 6.8 billion yuan.
8. Humber (1410 m, UK)
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In England, near Kingston upon Hull, the fifth largest single-span suspension bridge in the world was built - the Humber. It spans the estuary of the Ouse and Trent rivers, on south coast of which is the town of Barton-on-Humber, and to the north is Hessle. Thus the counties of North Lincolnshire and East Yorkshire were united. On average, 120,000 vehicles cross this bridge every week. A one-way fare for a car costs £2.70, and slightly more for lorries.
9. Sultan Selim Yavuz Bridge (1408 m, Türkiye)
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Any city consists of streets and squares that can look completely different: wide avenues and narrow alleys, straight and winding, with...
The Sultan Selim Yavuz Bridge (which means Terrible) became the third bridge spanning the Bosphorus Strait, north of Istanbul. Selim I Yavuz was an Ottoman sultan who reigned from 1512-1520.
Construction of this bridge began in the spring of 2013 and was completed three years later, opening to traffic in August 2016. It became an integral part of the Northern Marmari ring road, which is currently under construction. It is distinguished by a combined design: in some places the canvas is supported by cables, in others cables are added to them, and the middle of the main span is suspended exclusively on cables. This bridge has become the widest suspension bridge in the world; its deck has 8 traffic lanes (4 in both directions), and in addition to them there are two more railway tracks. The bridge's pylons rose 322 meters, which is also a record high. Approximately $3 billion was spent on construction of the bridge.
10. Jiangyin (1385 m, China)
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At the time of construction of this bridge, it was closest to the mouth of the Yangtze River, but later a couple more bridges were built downstream - the Shanghai Tunnel Bridge and the Sutong Bridge. The bridge is located in the middle of Jiangsu province and serves traffic on two national highways: east coast this is the Tongjiang-Sanya Expressway, and in the west is the Beijing-Shanghai Expressway. In addition to six traffic lanes (3 in both directions), the bridge also has pedestrian sidewalks. The narrowest part of the river bed was chosen for its construction. The bridge deck rises 50 meters above the water.
The completion of the bridge coincided with the anniversary of the 50th anniversary of the Chinese Revolution of 1947. For Chinese designers, this bridge was the longest they had ever designed. The foundation of the bridge was laid in 1994, and its design and construction took less than three years. The bridge's pylons are 190 meters high (the height of a 60-story skyscraper). The main span of the bridge is a steel plate with a smooth bend. In total, over 2.7 billion yuan were spent on the construction of the bridge, and its grand opening took place on September 28, 1999.
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
Highest drawbridge in Europe, 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 building was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the most long bridge above the 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, the equivalent of 65 steel and concrete was used. 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 shopping centers Yeosu and Gwangyang have shrunk.
Shuihai – 275 m
The structure extends on the road connecting settlements 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
IN national park Hunan Province built a pedestrian viaduct. 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. Below, ships ply the waters river shipping company. The highway is popular with tourists who come to admire the picturesque panorama.
