TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - Bridges are a crucial piece of infrastructure and play a pivotal and indispensable role in connecting two regions. Their construction is based on various complex and multifaceted aspects, leading to different lengths depending on regional requirements.

The recent collapse of the Francis Scott Bridge in Baltimore City, United States, following a collision with the container ship Dali, has garnered global attention. Despite its relatively short length of only 2.6 kilometers, the incident caused 115 ships to halt at one of the busiest ports on the U.S. East Coast.

Here is a compilation of the world's longest bridges sourced from various reputable outlets:

1. Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China

The title for the world's longest bridge currently belongs to the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China. This bridge, connecting Shanghai and Nanjing in Jiangsu Province, was completed in 2010 and officially opened a year later.

The 164-kilometer-long bridge incurred a cost of approximately US$8.5 billion or Rp127 trillion and was engineered to withstand seismic activity and extreme weather conditions, such as hurricanes.

2. Changhua-Kaohsiung Bridge in Taiwan

The Changhua-Kaohsiung Bridge in Taiwan spans 157 kilometers, making it the second-longest bridge globally. The bridge that was built in 2007 connects Baguashan in Changhua and Zuoying in Kaohsiung, serving as an integral part of the high-speed rail line.

Notably, it features an earthquake-resistant design due to Taiwan's frequent seismic activity resulting from its location on the perimeters of the Eurasian and Philippine Sea plates.

3. Cangde Grand Bridge in China

China is also home to the world’s third-longest bridge, the Cangde Grand Bridge, with a length of nearly 116 kilometers. Completed in 2010, this bridge is exclusively utilized for the high-speed train that links Beijing and Shanghai. It is designed to be earthquake-resistant and comprises a total of 3,092 piers crossing the Wei River and several other small rivers.

4. Tianjin Grand Bridge in China

The Tianjin Grand Bridge in China extends over 113 kilometers. Finalized in 2010 and opened in 2011, this bridge is an indispensable part of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed rail line. One of the unique features of the bridge lies in its employment of an elevated track design to circumvent various obstacles, including road intersections and surrounding rail lines.

5. Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge in China

Rounding out the top five is the Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge in China, with a length of approximately 79 kilometers. Although its construction concluded in 2008, the bridge was not accessible to the public until 2010. An estimated 10,000 workers were involved in its construction, utilizing approximately 2.3 million cubic meters of concrete and 45,000 tons of steel.

KAYLA NAJMI IHSANI

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