15 Must-Know Facts On The Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge That Will Amaze You

Ayan Banerjee
Oct 24, 2022 By Ayan Banerjee
Originally Published on Nov 25, 2021
Edited by Katherine Cook
Fact-checked by Nishtha Dixit
The Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge is now officially considered as the second-longest bridge in the world.

The Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge crosses the largest water body, Yangcheng Lake, covering 5.5 mi (9 km).

The Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge broke the Guinness World record of being the longest bridge in the world. The Yangtze River is on the south side of the Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge.

The building of the Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge has resulted in forming a connection between two famous metropolitan cities. These cities are Nanjing situated in Jiangsu province and Shanghai in China.

The low-rise paddies are a portion of the Yangtze River delta through which the grand bridge crosses. The development of the Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge helped to solve the most concerning problem of railway traffic at that time.

It has also helped people travel long distances quickly. The famous foods of China are tangbao, pidu noodles, and sesame pancakes.

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The Speed Limit On The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge

The Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge is the world's longest bridge and is 102.4 mi (164.8 km) long. The speed limit is approximately 51 mph (82 kph) but is not specifically mentioned.

The Danyang Kunshan Bridge is a viaduct bridge. This bridge consists of small stands that is created to cross a gorge.

The cities Danyan, Suzhou, Changzhou Wuxi, and Kunshi are also touched by the bridge. The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana is nearly 24 mi (38.6 km) long, making it the world's longest continuous bridge crossing a body of water.

The Bang Na Expressway in Thailand, on the other hand, is the world's longest road bridge, stretching 34 mi (54.7 km). The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge name seems a little much at times, however for this bridge, the 'Grand Bridge' appears to be a well-deserved term.

The construction of the Danyang Kunshan Bridge has immensely reduced the journey from Ningbo to Jiaxing. It sorted the problem of traffic, and people can travel between the two cities in just two hours. This journey previously took four and a half hours to travel. China has gained the reputation of implementing major engineering projects.

Design Facts On The Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge

Some of the basic design facts about the Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge are discussed below.

The bridge was built at an astounding cost of $8.5 billion. The Yangcheng Lake section of the bridge is supported by 9500 concrete pilings and contains 450,000 tons (408,233,133 kg) of steel.

Steel cables were used in large amounts to support the construction of the Grand Bridge. The structure was built to withstand extreme weather and direct hits from navy vessels weighing up to 300,000 tons (2,721,554,22 kg).

The Langfang-Qingxian viaduct, a part of the bridge, is 70.8 miles (114 km) long, making it the world's second-longest bridge. We only know that the bridge is the world's longest bridge in the world but the designer behind it is not known.

A recent investigation revealed that the China Road and Bridge Corporation had something to do with the designing of this bridge. This company is funded by the Chinese government and has carried out major civil engineering projects in China.

There were so many obstacles present during the development of the bridge like lakes, canals, and the terrain. However, construction was finished in the original four year time span.

The Danyang-Kunshan Bridge had to be adaptable and dynamic as it rose and fell over 62 mi (100 km) of different terrain. Because the vast majority of the land in the river's flood plain is made up of soft soils rather than hard bedrock, it has to be strengthened on a regular basis.

In early 2000 when rail transport was of incredible importance, Chinese companies decided to recreate public transport to build bridges of all possible sizes and shapes. As a result of this bridge-building revolution, more than hundreds of projects were made in the mountainous and terrain areas.

After creating so many bridges over time, the Chinese government designed of the most impressive structures, the Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge.

It was designed to connect Shanghai city to the capital of East China's Jiangsu province. The 100 mi (160.9 km) long bridge had to be built in a way that meant it could go through canals, rivers, lowland rice paddies, lakes, and uneven terrain.

The bridge has a total length of 102.4 miles (164.8 km) with an average height of 100 ft (31 m) from the ground. After completion, it has easily broken the record of all other long bridges.

For the major section, the bridge follows the direction of the Yangtze River. The Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge is the largest bridge in the world and itss rail segment known as Langfang qing xian covers a distance of 70.8 mi (114 km).

Another 5.6 miles (9 km) of the bridge directly follows Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou. This particular section was designed with steel cables, 2000 pillars, and a steel structure of 450,000 tons (408,233,133 kg).

The construction of the bridge was done in such a way so that it can tolerate all types of natural disasters including eight magnitude earthquakes and typhoons. Naval vessels also directly influenced the design of the bridge.

Name Of Bridges That Are Most Expensive To Build

Some of the most expensive bridges to build are:

Tower Bridge located in London, United Kingdom is considered to be one of the most expensive, finest bridges in the world. The official opening of Tower Bridge was on June 30, 1894.

Out of 50 designs, Horace Jones and Wolf Barry's design won and work started in 1884. The construction of the bridge cost around £1,184,000. The bridge was built over the River Thames in London.

The Cooper Bridge in South Carolina is a very beautiful flyover that opened in 2005. The total cost of the construction of Cooper Bridge was $836.9 million. The bridge becomes dangerous during natural disasters and when there are accidents.

The George Washington Bridge over the Hudson River located in Washington is one of the longest bridges in the world. Construction work started in 1931 and it took four years to complete. The bridge was built at a high cost of $1.1 billion.

The Tsing Ma Bridge located in China is considered an expensive bridge that connects Hong Kong's Tsing Yi and Ma Wan islands. It has a total length of 0.85 miles (1.37 km). It was first open to the public in 2000.

The Oakland Bay Bridge in San Francisco was very expensive to build and cost around $6.4 billion. The bridge was fully completed in 2016.

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, USA has gained a position in the list of most expensive bridges. The cost was as high as $704.9 million. The bridge was created to make journeys quicker.

Construction started in 1937 and completed in 1964. This is considered the tallest suspension bridge in the world. The bridge is also very famous with bicycle riders.

What year was the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge constructed?

By 2006, a definite work plan had been established, and construction began. The construction of the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge took four years and a lot of labor.

With a workforce of 10,000 people, the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge construction work was completed in 2010 and opened for public transport in 2011. The Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge is part of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, which may surprise some people.

Traveling by public transportation from Ningbo to Jiaxing used to take four and half hours, but with the Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge, it now takes only two hours.

In an ironic twist, the construction has taken on a life of its own and has become a tourist attraction in the area. The Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge has also reduced the amount of railway traffic.

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Main image is by MNXANL

Second image is by Pechristener

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Written by Ayan Banerjee

Bachelor of Science specializing in Nautical Science

Ayan Banerjee picture

Ayan BanerjeeBachelor of Science specializing in Nautical Science

Thanks to his degree in nautical science from T.S. Chanakya, IMU Navi Mumbai Campus, Ayan excels at producing high-quality content across a range of genres, with a strong foundation in technical writing. Ayan's contributions as an esteemed member of the editorial board of The Indian Cadet magazine and a valued member of the Chanakya Literary Committee showcase his writing skills. In his free time, Ayan stays active through sports such as badminton, table tennis, trekking, and running marathons. His passion for travel and music also inspire his writing, providing valuable insights.

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Fact-checked by Nishtha Dixit

Bachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

Nishtha Dixit picture

Nishtha DixitBachelor of Arts specializing in English Literature

Nishtha is an experienced SEO writer and editor, with a passion for writing and self-expression. She is currently pursuing an undergraduate major in Literature and Communication and a minor in Political Science from the University of Delhi. Nishtha has completed a certificate master course in English from the British Council and has been appointed as the editor for the bi-monthly magazine of the University of Delhi.

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