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China opens world’s longest bridge over water

By Zachary Roth | The Lookout – Thu, Jun 30, 2011

After four years and the pouring of 81 million cubic feet of concrete, the Jiaozhou Bay bridge is finally ready.

China opened the world's longest bridge over water Thursday, linking the eastern port city of Qingdao to Huangdao island--a span of 26.4 miles.

You can see more photos here, and some vital stats are below:

• The structure used 81 million cubic feet of concrete, and 450,000 tons of steel--enough for 65 Eiffel Towers.
• It's supported by more than 5,000 pillars.
• It's 110 feet wide.
• At least 10,000 people are reported to have worked on building the bridge, in two teams that labored around the clock.
• Estimates of the cost vary, but some put it as high as $8.8 billion, and even China's government admits it was more than $1 billion.
• It's more than 2.5 miles longer than the previous longest bridge over water, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana.
• It's reportedly expected to carry more than 30,000 cars a day, starting today.

The United States has a major bridge project of its own in the works. Two dozen steel modules that will be part of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge are currently being constructed--in Shanghai.

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All Comments

42 comments

Bruce • 11 mths ago
Sad that we can't even build our own bridges any more. Absolute travesty.
- crusty 11 mths ago
  The modules being made in China are only being used in the construction of a San Francisco-Oakland bridge project.
- Dark Angel 11 mths ago
  Crusty: It's still an expensive project that had to be shipped elsewhere because of over-pricing in the US.
- W 11 mths ago
  OVERPRICING? How anout the slave labor costs that China's companies can get away with. Not to mention the sub standard engineering process's. In US automotive, WE openly refuse to purchase/use screws/fasteners, etc. etc that are made in China.
Scamp • 11 mths ago
Let's hope there are several rest areas for bridge travelers--that's a long, long stretch!
- truth hurts 11 mths ago
  @ Scamp - You cannot drive more than 26.4 miles without a break? OMG - how small is your bladder?
- Ade 11 mths ago
  What happens if you car breaks down?
- Maria 11 mths ago
  e Causeway bridge in Louisiana has seven turn arounds. Most always have a tow truck parked as well as police, there are call boxes about every half mile. I drive it all the time, its not bad at all. It was built a long time ago and I assume the China thought of all those things and more.
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Bootlegor • 11 mths ago
Pity that the American bridge modules are being built in Shanghai; this is why our economy is in trouble. American dollars for American jobs equals American Prosperity and Security!
- Nunya 11 mths ago
  Yup. Blame big business that has maximized profits to lock up America's wealth without re-investing in their own American businesses or in hiring workers. Typical GOP supported policies that are the root cause.
- Casey 11 mths ago
  this is capitalism. can't have it both ways
- Dark Angel 11 mths ago
  Nunya and Bootlegor - You can blame over-pricing in the US.
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Kent • 11 mths ago
We Can't Even Build One From Oakland To Treasure Island In Twice That Time Frame For 12 Times The Money...Pretty Sad
SA • 11 mths ago
"Estimates of the cost vary, but some put it as high as $8.8 billion"
99% of the cost was materials 1% labor :-)
- me 10 mths ago
  Clutch Cargo for your avatar?:) you go
nilremo • 11 mths ago
How far is this China from the poor, overpopulated country that the European nations (Britain mainly) abused during the XIX Century, even waging a war to force it to buy opium !(eg: 'The Opium War").
- MK1 MOD ZERO 11 mths ago
  They have abused themselves throughout the centuries. That's why they have never amounted to anything, never "got their act together" , so to speak. They never will. Too much inherent corruption. But, nice revisionist Lib try.
- nilremo 11 mths ago
  Don't worry Con, soon you and your wall Street cronies will be working full time for them!!.
Steven • 10 mths ago
I sure hate to run out of gas driving on that bridge.
Sefah Oppong • 10 mths ago
wao everything is possible in this world. it is realy fantastic and amazing
Jessica • 11 mths ago
yay :) that is so cool. I hope the day my family and I go back to visit our relatives in China we can visit this bridge
christy V • 11 mths ago
WOW!!!
mike • 11 mths ago
And this is another reason we Americans need to vote everyone out of office and start over. Thats DEM's and REP's. Why are we allowing them to take from us year after year. We could have made the bridge here in the USA for SF & Oakland. Again, vote all of them out and make term limits for all of them just like we have for the president and Govr's of the states.Wake up America.
DR • 11 mths ago
A 26.4 mile bridge that's made in China. You go first.
Ulfsark • 10 mths ago
26 miles .... good Gods, i think I'd vomit if I was on the bridge....

Then there's this: "The United States has a major bridge project of its own in the works. Two dozen steel modules that will be part of the new San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge are currently being constructed--in Shanghai."

Um, EXCUSE ME? Even our own bridges are now made in china???
michael d • 11 mths ago
Americans paid for the bridge ,,, with the help of Wall Mart made in china !! YES and now they are making part of a bridge to be constructed here in the USA !!
JODYNNC • 10 mths ago
This doesn't hold up. Huangdao is not 26mi.away and not even an Island. Unless Google Earth is posting fake satellite images. This is BOGUS. Look 4 yourselves. The bridge runs along the inside of the BAY. You can see where a small peninsula attaches to it in the NW side of the bay. The picture is blurry in the center of the bay. But scan around the sides and you can see where it connects on both sides of bay. NO WAY this is 26mi. What's going on??
ELIZABETH PETERSON • 11 mths ago
What is the cost to ride the bridge.
fatman • 10 mths ago
Our steel mills can not supply the steel needed to build the bridge because instead of investing money in updating the steel mills money instead was spent on high wages and pension plans, medical/dental insurance and vacation times for thee workers. Workers wanting too all live the good life caused our countries steel industry to far lag behind many other developed nation's steel industries. We became a consumer nation and abandoned our status of being number one without a second thought.
cub power • 10 mths ago
man thats some bridge....dont get caught in the middle when a tsunami hits.....or a huge wave
Mike • 10 mths ago
America could build a bridge to the moon if we had all the money back we spent on countrys that hate us.
Despina • 11 mths ago
Waohhhhhhhhhhhhh What A Bridge...:-)

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