The Top Five Most Spectacular Bridges in the World
A Picture Hub
The Top Five Bridges:
1. Akashi Kaikyō Bridge, Japan
2. Millau Viaduct, France
3. Si Du River Bridge, China
4. New River Gorge, West Virginia, US
5. Donghai Bridge, China
Below you will find fascinating pictures and some quick facts about each of these amazing structures.
Akashi Kaikyō Bridge
Also known as the Pearl Bridge
Location: crosses the Akashi Strait between the cities of Kobe of Iwaya in Japan, crossing the Akashi Strait.
Bridge Type: Suspension
Total Length: 3,911 meters (12,831 ft) The bridge has the longest span of any suspension bridge in the world, at 1,991 meters (6,532 ft)
Width: six lanes for vehicular traffic
Construction period: 10 years from 1988 to 1998
Use: roughly 23,000 cars per day
Fun Facts:
The bridge was built in response to the sinking of two ferries, which killed 168 people. A safer more reliable mode of transportation was needed. The bridge can withstand an earthquake with a magnitude of 8.5 on the Richter Scale and winds up 178 mph.
Millau Viaduct
Location: Millau-Creissels, France, spanning the Valley of the River Tarn
Type of Bridge: Cable-stayed bridge
Estimated Construction Cost: €394 million (about $566 million)
Height: The tallest pylon is 343 meters (1,125.3 ft) high, making It the tallest bridge in the world and the 12th highest (clearance above ground)
Length: 2,460 m (8,070 ft or roughly 1 1/2 miles)
Width: Four lanes for vehicular traffic
Years of construction: 3
Fun Fact:
The toll required for driving is €5.60
Si Du River Bridge
Location: Hubei, China
Bridge Type: Suspension
Height above the ground: 472 m (1,549 ft) the highest in the world
Width: 24.5 m (80 ft) - 4 driving lines.
Cost: $720 Million Yuan ($118 million)
Total Length: 1,222 m (4,009 ft)
Fun Fact:
Each of the suspension cables contain over 16,000 individual wires
New River Gorge Bridge
Location: Fayetteville, West Virginia, United States
Bridge Type: Arch
Length: 924 meters (3,030 ft)
Height above the ground: 267 meters (876 ft)
Construction cost: $37 million
Fun Fact:
The bridge is the third largest arched bridge in the world.
Donghai Bridge
Name literally translates "Big East Sea Bridge"
Location: Near Shanghai, China
Date of completion: December 2005
Bridge Type: Low-level Viaduct (primarily), cable stayed (secondary)
Total Length: 32.5 Kilometers (20.2 miles) The longest sea spanning bridge in the world
Width: six driving lanes
Fun Fact:
The cable stayed sections were built to allow ships to pass through the bridge at various points.
