An astonishing feat of modern engineering, the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China, holds the undisputed title of the world's longest bridge. Stretching for a colossal 102 miles, this railway viaduct takes approximately two hours for a train to traverse, linking two of the nation's major economic hubs.
A Colossal Infrastructure Project
Construction on this monumental structure began in 2006 and was completed just five years later in 2011. The project came with a staggering price tag of $8.5 billion (approximately £6.4 billion), equating to roughly $51 million (£38.6 million) for every mile of its length. The bridge forms a critical section of the high-speed Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway, situated between the bustling metropolises of Shanghai and Nanjing.
Engineers designed the bridge with dual purposes: to provide a rapid transport link and to protect the fertile, water-rich land below. For most of its route, the viaduct runs parallel to the mighty Yangtze River, and its design intentionally mimics the river's natural curves. In one particularly breathtaking section, the bridge spans the waters of Yangcheng Lake for just over five miles.
Revolutionising Travel and Economy
The impact on journey times has been transformative. Before the bridge's construction, a train trip between Ningbo and Jiaxing took four and a half hours. Now, the same journey is completed in a mere two hours, offering passengers spectacular vistas along the way. More broadly, the bridge has made it possible to travel the 1,000-kilometre (621-mile) distance between Beijing and Shanghai in just 4 hours and 48 minutes.
This new transport link has significantly boosted regional productivity and connectivity. Furthermore, its status as a record-breaking structure has turned it into an unlikely tourist attraction, with visitors seeking out the bridge as a landmark in its own right.
Built to Withstand Nature's Forces
Given China's susceptibility to severe weather and seismic activity, the bridge was constructed with robust safety as a priority. Experts confirm it was built to the highest anti-seismic standards, ensuring it can withstand powerful earthquakes. Additionally, the viaduct's design accounts for the heavy maritime traffic beneath it, engineered to endure potential collisions from ships.
The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is not China's only recent record-breaking infrastructure achievement. The country also recently unveiled the world's highest bridge, the Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge in Guizhou province, which reportedly reduced a two-hour journey to just two minutes.
