You likely use them every day, but have you ever stopped to consider how incredible bridges are? They’re massive spans of concrete, metal, and wires that weigh thousands of tons, yet remain standing even through destructive and violent natural disasters like earthquakes, floods, and hurricanes.
Bridges are also key to the way we move and serve as an important tool for many commuters. Despite this, how often do you read a piece extolling the greatness of bridges, or hear an ode to their wonders? Not often enough, by our measure. Let’s correct that, shall we? Here’s a quick sampling of the biggest bridges out there.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge
The longest suspension bridge
Suspension bridges are feats of architectural engineering. Think about it: A giant structure of wires and pylons manipulating tension and compression to allow for a single span of heavy material to be suspended in air, thus letting it bridge wide chasms and bodies of water. The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge, but the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (aka the Pearl Bridge) holds the title for the world’s longest. This 2.4-mile-long bridge spans the Akashi Strait, connecting the city of Kobe on the Honshu mainland with Awaji Island. Since 1998, the bridge has carried six lanes of traffic and approximately 23,000 cars a day between the two towns.
The impressive central span ranks as the longest in the world at 1.24 miles long, and the bridge itself is built to withstand a magnitude 8.5 earthquake. In fact, during construction the 1995 Kobe Earthquake actually forced the two central towers further apart, making the center span three feet longer than it was originally designed. But earthquakes aren’t the only natural disaster the Akashi Kaikyo is built to withstand.
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