A long time ago, if you wanted to cross a body of water, you had to either swim or use a boat. But then somebody invented bridges and now nobody remembers what a boat is anymore. In fact, humans have become so obsessed with bridges that we just can’t help but build them everywhere – for example, the Bridge to Nowhere in Wanganui in New Zealand proudly connects two sides of a valley to, um, nothing. But, my, what a bridge!
Anyway, here are the current longest bridges in the world. Admire them. Feel pride.
Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, China – longest rail bridge
China has lots of absurdly long railbridges (seven out of the ten longest in the world!), and the longest of the long spans nearly 165 kilometres (102 miles). Sure, it towers over huge swathes of water-logged rice fields, but does the Danyang-KunshanGrandBridge even count as a bridge? It takes up more space than Liechtenstein. It should really be seen as a long thin principality that just happens to connect Shanghai and the area west of it.
Bang Na Expressway, Thailand – longest road bridge
This Thai toll monstrosity doesn’t even cross much water but just whizzes above other roads for most of its 55 km. If you’re a stickler and demand the longest road bridge ought to mostly cross water, then check out the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway near New Orleans in Louisiana – it’s a far from middling length at 38.4 kilometres.
Poughkeepsie Bridge, USA – longest foot bridge
The bridge was originally built in the late 19th century for railways crossing the Hudson River, but later on a larger bridge stole its thunder and rendered it useless. Happily, the bridge was reopened a few years ago as the Walkway Over the Hudson and claimed the official title of longest footbridge in the world at 2.06km. Hurray for recycling!
Walkway Over the Hudson’, Highland, New York. Photo: Phillip Capper
