Longest Suspension Bridge

The longest suspension bridge in the world is the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge in Japan at 3,911 m (or 12,831 ft). The following are its other specifications as well as those of the other major suspension bridges in the world today.

Dimensions of the Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (Japan)

The height is 282.8 meters (or 928 ft). The longest span has been measured at 1,991 m (6,532 ft). The clearance below has been gauged at 65.72 m. The bridge was completed in 1998. Its coordinates are 34 degrees, 36’59”N, 135 degrees 01’13”E. The bridge connects Kobe to Honshu.

The bridge possesses three spans. The center span is 1,991 m (6,532 ft). The other two spans measure 960 m (3,150 ft). The middle span was actually increased following the Kobe earthquake on January 17, 1995.

Dimensions of the Xihoumen Bridge (China)

The Xihoumen Bridge is the second longest suspension bridge in the world. Its main span is 1,650 m (5,413 ft). It is 5.3 km long. The main bridge is 2.6 km with a span of 1,650 m. The entire approach is nearly 2.7 km.

The height is 211 m. Its date of completion was scheduled for October 2009. It has cost US$363 million. It has been in use since December 2007. The bridge connects the islands of Cezi and Jintang.

Dimensions of the Great Belt Bridge (Denmark)

The total length is 6,790 m (22,277 ft). It is 31 m wide (102 ft) with a length of 254 m (833 ft). As the third longest bridge in the world, the Great Belt has a span of 1,624 m (5,328 ft). The clearance is 65 m (213 ft). The coordinates are 55 degrees, 20’, 31” N, 11 degrees, 02’10” E.

The Great Belt Bridge is also known as the East Bridge. However the bridge is actually divided into the East Bridge, the East Tunnel and the East Bridge. The West Bridge is 6,611 m (21,690 ft), 25 m (82 ft) wide and the longest span is 110 m (361 ft). The East Tunnel is 9,024 m (4.9 mi) and the gauge is 1,435 mm.

Dimensions of the Runyang Bridge (China)

The fourth longest suspension bridge in existence, the Runyang Bridge has a major span of 1,490 m (4,888 ft). It has two towers over 215 m high. The deck is nearly 40 m (129 ft) wide and the height clearance is 50 m (164 ft). The bridge is 35.66 km (22.16 mi) long. The structure cost nearly 6 billion Yuan (US$700 million).

Dimensions of the Humber Bridge (UK)

Near Kingston, it is 2,220 m (7,238 ft) long. The longest span is 4,626 or 1,410 m. Its towers are 155 m (510 ft) high. The bridge has been designed so it can bend up to 3 m (10 ft) with 80 mph winds. Opened on 1981, it was the longest single span suspension bridge until 1997 when the Great Belt Bridge was inaugurated.

The need to build the longest suspension bridge in the world is being born out of necessity. With more countries becoming modernized, the size of these suspension bridges will only grow.