The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey holds the title of the world's longest suspension bridge, with a main span of 2,023 metres. Connecting Europe and Asia across the Dardanelles Strait, it opened on March 18, 2022, and has been in service for just over four years. The bridge cost €2.5 billion (approximately £2 billion) to build, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Record-Breaking Span and Construction
The bridge surpasses Japan's Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, which held the previous record since 1998, by 32 metres. Construction began in 2017 and took five years to complete. The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge reduces journey times by up to 93%, eliminating the need for a 90-minute ferry crossing across the Dardanelles Strait. Erdogan stated: "Turkey has overtaken Japan, which has the longest bridge in the world in terms of midspan, and has taken the place."
Symbolic Naming and Length
The bridge's name and length carry historical significance. The year 1915 commemorates the Ottoman victory during World War I, a key defeat for Britain that led to the declaration of the Republic of Turkey in 1923. The 2,023-metre span pays homage to 2023, the centenary of the republic's founding. Erdogan remarked: "Canakkale, which has been the apple of the eyes of various civilizations, cultures and societies for thousands of years, embraces a brand new future today. We have come together to inaugurate the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, which we see as a ruby necklace over the Canakkale Strait."
Potential Successor in Italy
Despite its current record, the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge may soon be overtaken. Italy has proposed a bridge linking mainland Italy to Sicily across the Strait of Messina, with a planned span of 3,300 metres. Previous proposals for this bridge were made in the 1990s (cancelled in 2006), revived in 2009 (cancelled again in 2023), and resurfaced in 2025. Italian Prime Minister Georgia Meloni said: "It is not an easy task, but we consider it an investment in Italy's present and future, and we like difficult challenges when they make sense." Concerns include earthquakes, strong currents, and disruption to bird migration patterns.
