The most grandiose bridges in the world. The most beautiful bridges in the world The best suspension bridges across the sea in the world

Of course, today crossing a river on a bridge can no longer evoke such exciting emotions as before... or can it?

Since the creation of the world, man has tried to overcome oceans, mountains, and deserts. It's in our blood. Of course, today crossing a river on a bridge can no longer evoke such exciting emotions as before... or can it? The 25 most unique bridges in the world that we invite you to “walk” on are remarkable achievements, impressive records, award-winning designs, outstanding architecture and rich history.

Helix Bridge (HelixBridge), Singapore

This bridge over the Singapore River is unique in its design; its structure resembles the structure of a DNA molecule. The Helix Bridge opened in 2010 and is made primarily of steel. At night, its unique shape is complemented by LED lighting.

Chapel Bridge (Chapel Bridge, Switzerland

This magnificent bridge, located in the city of Lucerne, was built in 1333. It crosses the Royce River diagonally. This oldest wooden covered bridge in Europe has a rich history. The inside of the bridge was decorated with 17th-century paintings depicting local historical events, but almost all of the images were destroyed by a fire almost 20 years ago. About ⅔ of the bridge and 85 of the 110 images were lost, some dating back to 1611. Only 25 paintings were saved and restored, and a year later the bridge itself was rebuilt.

Chengyang Bridge (Chengyang Bridge), China

This bridge is also called “Wind and Rain”. It is hidden among rice fields and mountains in the Chinese province of Guangxi and connects the banks of the Lingxi River. It was built in 1916 by the Dong people, an ethnic minority in China. The bridge consists of 5 separate pagodas with galleries and pavilions. Traditional Chinese architecture creates a fantastic appearance, but the most amazing thing about this structure is that not a single nail was used to construct it. The bridge is held in place by several astounding architectural tricks.

Rolling Bridge (Rolling Bridge, England

This unique bridge is located in Padington (London). Every Friday, the octagon-shaped figure unfolds, turning into a bridge - this is the main feature. By the end of the day it will curl into an octagon again. The bridge will appear again next Friday. The mechanism operates hydraulically. The bridge was designed in 2004, its author is Thomas Heatherwick; By the way, the cauldrons for the Olympic and Paralympic flames are also his work.

Langkawi Sky Bridge (Langkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia

The Langkawi Sky Bridge can be reached by cable car. The curved walkway is 410 feet or approximately 125 meters long and is located on the peak of Mount Gangun Mat Chinchang at an altitude of 2,300 feet (700 meters) above sea level. After taking the lift up the mountain, tourists can walk across the bridge and admire one of Malaysia's most beautiful views of the mountains and rainforests.

Millennium Bridge in Gateshead (The Gateshead Millennium Bridge), England

The bridge was opened by the Queen in 2002 and is located in the center of Newcastle over the River Tyne. This bridge is unique in that it is one of the few swing bridges. When turned to one side, it is a regular pedestrian bridge that allows people to cross to the other side of the river. When it is turned the other way, boats and ships can pass under it. The bridge has won many architectural awards for its design. It is also called the “Blinking Eye” because when turned it looks like the blinking eyelid of a huge eye.

Old Bridge (Stari Most), Bosnia and Herzegovina

The name of this bridge is translated quite literally - Old Bridge. It is believed to have been built in 1566 and stood the test of time until it was destroyed in 1993. during the Bosnian war. More than $13 million was spent restoring this 16th-century bridge and surrounding buildings. In 2004 it was finally restored and opened to the public. Local residents have a tradition of jumping from this bridge into the river. This bridge is also recognized as a World Heritage Site.

Akashi-Kaikyo Bridge (Akashi-Kaikyō Bridge), Japan

This bridge is the greatest invention of Japanese engineering, it holds the record for the longest suspension bridge in the world - 3,911 meters. That's about 4 Brooklyn Bridges! The Akashi Bridge was opened in 1998 and took 12 years to build. It links the city center of Kobe in Hyogo Prefecture and Awaji on Awaji Island. It's funny that the bridge was not built with the goal of becoming the longest suspension bridge in the world, but in 1995 the Kobe earthquake damaged the structure of the bridge under construction, causing its length to increase by 3 feet (approximately 1 meter), which is what gave the bridge its record. The total length of the bridge cables is 300 thousand km. This is enough to wrap around the Earth seven and a half times!

Rialto Bridge (Rialto Bridge), Italy

Another bridge with a rich history. It was built in the 15th century, connecting the banks of the Grand Canal in Venice. More precisely, the bridge was built even earlier, in 1181, but then it was a small barge that served as the only way to get to the other side of the Grand Canal. In 1551 the authorities decided to improve the bridge. The best architects in human history, including Michelangelo and Palladio, proposed plans for the reconstruction of the bridge, but the honor ultimately fell to Antonio da Ponte. Many architects were skeptical of his plans and predicted the bridge's collapse, but he defied the critics and the bridge remains standing to this day. Classical Venetian architecture added to its appeal and until the 19th century the Rialto was the only bridge over the Grand Canal and the only link between the two sides of Venice, until more modern bridges were built.

Slauerhoff Bridge (Slauerhoffbrug Bridge), Netherlands

No, this is not an optical illusion! This extremely strange bridge is located in the city of Leeuwarden. Due to the huge number of rivers flowing through the Netherlands and the busy water traffic, the country needed a bridge that could quickly rise and fall without stopping either river or road traffic. That's how it was in 2000. and this bridge of iron and steel appeared. It is raised and lowered 10 times a day using hydraulics.

Octavio Frias de Oliveira Bridge (Octavio Frias De Oliveira Bridge), Brazil

Located in the center of Sao Paulo, the bridge was opened in 2008. It took 5 years to create, and 450 workers were involved in construction. The bridge has an unusual appearance due to its X-shaped support structure in the center. Another feature is the movement on two levels, one above the other under the support. The bridge is also decorated with LEDs, creating stunning light patterns, and at Christmas, special lighting turns it into something like a Christmas tree.

Falkirk Wheel (The Falkirk Wheel), Scotland

This bridge is not only distinguished by its futuristic design. This is the world's first and only rotating ship lift. The structure, equipped with two locks with tunnels each 168 meters long, can be rotated 180 degrees. The boats below swim into the tunnel, the structure turns and lifts them to the canal located above. The unique way of connecting two canals and transporting ships makes this bridge a remarkable feat of engineering.

Henderson waves (Henderson Waves Bridge, Singapore

The name itself tells us that the bridge is designed in the form of waves. It connects two Singapore parks, Mount Faber Park and Telok Blangah Hill Park and looks amazing against the backdrop of Singapore's nature. At night, the backlight turns on, adding charm to its already artistic design. Henderson waves are made of steel and wood. Steel is necessary for the strength of the structure, and wood complements the stylish design, embodying the beauty of the connected parks. The bridge is equipped with seating areas, bars and viewing platforms so that you can fully enjoy the surrounding beauty.

SiDu Bridge (Siduhe Bridge), China

The bridge was opened in 2009. Xidu is officially the highest bridge in the world and probably the scariest for those who are afraid of heights. It is located incredible high - 1627 feet (≈496m) above the ground. This is taller than the Statue of Liberty, the Eiffel Tower, the Pyramids of Giza and Big Ben. It passes over a river gorge in the Hubei province of China, surrounded by mountains and greenery. Construction of the bridge proved difficult due to its location. It was impossible to use cranes, ships or even helicopters. The engineers agreed on an interesting idea of ​​using rockets instead of all of the above. About 1000 m of connecting cable was tied to a rocket and launched over the gorge to the other side to lay the foundation of the bridge. Due to its unique location and unique construction method, this bridge will most likely remain the highest in the world for many years to come.

Millau Viaduct (Millau Viaduct), France

This bridge is listed in the Guinness Book of Records for its height - it is 1125 feet (≈343m), which makes the bridge a masterpiece of engineering art. In 2006, he received the Outstanding Structure Award, one of the most prestigious awards in the field of architecture. The New York Times dubbed it "an engineering triumph" and the BBC called it "one of the engineering marvels of the 21st century." French President Jacques Chirac opened the bridge in 2004. This bridge is estimated at 394 million euros or 524 million dollars. The viaduct spans the River Tan at Millau and allows drivers to enjoy some of the most amazing views in all of France, and sometimes even gives them the chance to rise above the clouds.

Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct (Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge), China

This bridge is the longest in the world. Incredibly, its length is 102 miles (almost 165 km), thanks to which it was included in the Guinness Book of Records. This railway bridge is part of the Beijing-Shanghai Railway and, as the name suggests, connects Danyang with Kunshan. Construction began in 2006 and took 4 grueling years; the bridge was opened in 2011. The colossal project cost 8.5 million US dollars, and about 10 thousand workers were involved in construction. More than 450 thousand tons of steel went into this structure.

Moses Bridge (Moses Bridge, Netherlands

Let's take a break from large-scale projects. It was not for nothing that this bridge was called the Moiseev Bridge, since it literally divides the water in two. The innovative design bridge was built in a 17th century fortress. It was restored, and the bridge was supposed to go over the moat and lead directly to the gate, but the architects, who did not want to make the fortress too noticeable to enemies, came up with another idea. They built the bridge almost underwater to make it almost invisible. The bridge is located inside a moat, so it allows people to cross to the other side without being noticed. This artistic design creates the illusion of walking through water as the bridge blends into the landscape. It's made entirely of wood and is completely waterproof, so you don't have to worry about getting your feet wet.

Khaju Bridge (Khaju Bridge), Iran

The Khaju Bridge was built by the Persian king, Shah Abbas II in the 17th century. The bridge consists of 25 arches and also serves as a dam, controlling the water level in the Zayand River, on which it stands. On the bridge you can still see the remains of stone chairs built for Shah Abbas II, who loved to sit here and enjoy the beautiful view. The pavilion in the center was built exclusively for the pleasure of the Shah, as a tea house.

The Brooklyn Bridge (Brooklyn bridge), USA

The construction of this bridge was completed in 1883. It has since become a national historical landmark and a symbol of New York City. The bridge is located right behind the tall skyscrapers of New York City and the view is impressive. The bridge spans the East River and connects Manhattan and Brooklyn. In fact, the bridge was designed by John Roebling, but he died shortly before construction began. His son, Washington Roebling, continued his father's work, but was very ill himself and managed the construction without leaving home. His wife, Emily Roebling, gave instructions to the workers and was practically the chief engineer of the project until the end of construction. In 1884, the famous showman of the time, F. Barnum, led a group of circus animals, including a column of 21 elephants, across the bridge to show how strong the bridge was.

Sydney Harbor Bridge (Sydney Harbor Bridge, Australia

This bridge, also called the “hanger”, was opened in 1932. Francis Greenway proposed to build a bridge leading from the north to the south side of the harbour. In 1900, the first projects were proposed, but they were all rejected. Later, the plans to build the bridge were disrupted by the First World War, and the project was selected only after its completion. An architect was found and construction of the Sydney Harbor Bridge began in 1924. 1,400 people worked on the project, construction lasted 8 years, it cost 4.2 million pounds or 6.61 million US dollars. 6 million rivets were driven in by hand, and 53 thousand tons of steel were used in construction. To this day, this bridge remains one of the most famous. This is greatly facilitated by the exciting pyrotechnic shows that take place here every New Year's Eve.

Alexander BridgeIII(Pont Alexandre III), France

The most appropriate epithet for this Parisian bridge is elegance. Its construction began in 1896 and ended in 1900. It is built in the Art Nouveau style and features statues of nymphs, cherubs, winged horses, angels, ships and vintage lanterns along the railings. The bridge is one of the most decorated bridges in the world. Despite the fact that the bridge is French, it is named after the Russian Emperor Alexander III - in honor of the Franco-Russian alliance. Alexander's son, Nicholas II, laid the first stone in the bridge's support. Statues made of gold, bronze, copper and stone highlight his Parisian style.

Banpo Bridge (Banpo Bridge), South Korea

Let's move from to modern. This truly stunning bridge is located in Seoul, spanning the Han River. In general, the bridge was built in 1982, but in 2007 a project was launched to renovate the surrounding area, and in 2009 the bridge became exactly what it can be seen today. The Koreans came up with the wonderful idea of ​​running fountains on both sides of the bridge. The fountains discharge approximately 190 tons of water per minute from all 380 spray heads on each side. At night, they are illuminated with all the colors of the rainbow using 10 thousand LED bulbs, creating various colorful effects. Water jets are very dynamic and can move to music, forming picturesque, ever-changing pictures. The bridge is not only stylish, but also environmentally friendly, the water is pumped directly from the river and constantly circulates. In 2008, the fountain on the bridge was included in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest.

Golden Gate Bridge (Golden Gate Bridge), USA

Perhaps one of the most famous bridges in the world. The Golden Gate Bridge has become a symbol not only of San Francisco, but of the entire United States. Designed by engineer Joseph Strauss, it was built to connect San Francisco with the entire country and cross a strait called the Golden Gate, which gives the bridge its name. Construction began in 1933 and took thousands of workers, 4 years and $35 million to complete. Opened in 1937, the bridge broke 2 records at once, becoming the longest and highest suspension bridge in the world. It received international acclaim, offered stunning views of the Pacific Ocean and, despite criticism, the bridge was awarded for its Art Deco design and signature red color. The bridge's records were soon broken (see paragraph 18), but it still retains its popularity and symbolic status to this day.

Tower Bridge (Tower Bridge, England

Let's move on to another historical landmark. Now we will head to Europe, or rather to England. In the 19th century, the only way to cross the Thames was London Bridge. London developed, several bridges were completed on the western side. The east side became a busy port, and it soon became obvious that a new bridge was needed. The creation of the bridge began in 1884, its design was chosen from more than 50 projects. The construction of the bridge, known today as the Tower Bridge, took 8 years, 432 workers took part in the work, and more than 11 thousand tons of steel were used. The Prince of Wales opened the bridge in 1894, relieving congestion on the eastern side. The bridge has become one of the most recognizable due to its iconic design. There is a tower on each side of the bridge, and the middle section of the bridge can be lowered and raised hydraulically to allow ships to pass through. The bridge is not only a symbol of London, but also a symbol of the entire United Kingdom.

Ponte Vecchio, Italy

Ponte Vecchio is a medieval bridge located in Florence, it passes over the Arno River. Its history goes back to the times of the Roman Empire. In 1333 the bridge was destroyed by a flood, and in 1345 Taddeo Gaddi rebuilt it. In 1565 Giorgio Vasari was commissioned to renovate the bridge by adding a gallery above it. This bridge is famous for the fact that there are houses right on it, some very close to the edge. Initially, these were shops where they sold meat or leather goods. However, there was too much garbage and stench from them, so in 1593 they began to be replaced by jewelers. The Ponte Vecchio is the only bridge in Florence that remained undamaged during World War II and the only one untouched by the Germans during the siege.

Dancing, divorce, lovers - it's all about bridges. Some of them are known for incredible stories associated with them, others are distinguished by architectural delights. One of the most outstanding bridges in the post-Soviet space is the South Bridge in the capital of Ukraine Kyiv, which opened on December 20, 1990. Then it was the longest of the bridges in the former republics of the USSR. Today about the very best bridges in the CIS.

South Bridge in Kyiv

The bridge was built over the course of 8 years and at the time of its opening in 1990 it was considered the most modern and longest in the Soviet Union. $220 million was spent on its construction. The uniqueness of this bridge is that it combines automobile traffic and the metro line at one level.

The tower pylon of the giant bridge, whose height is 110 meters, is visible from almost anywhere in Kyiv. Inside the pylon there is a spiral staircase, which is used by repairmen and extreme photographers. Lanterns are built into the bridge towers, providing safety for flying aircraft at dusk.

Double-decker bridge in Khabarovsk

This bridge was seen by everyone who held a 5,000-dollar Bank of Russia bill in their hands. It depicts the Khabarovsk Bridge, which connects the banks of the Amur. The construction of this bridge in 1916 marked the completion of the longest railway line in the world - the Trans-Siberian Railway. The bridge was reconstructed in 2009. The uniqueness of the Khabarovsky Bridge is that it has 2 tiers - cars move on the upper tier, and trains move on the lower tier. The total length of the bridge with overpasses is 3890 meters.

Red Dragon Bridge

The road bridge in Khanty-Mansiysk, built in 2004 and connecting the banks of the Irtysh, is called the “Red Dragon” because its intricacy metal structures from a distance it resembles some kind of fairy-tale creature sprawled on the river bank. The total weight of this structure, which was erected using the unique “arch-truss-beam” technology, is 11 tons. The total length of the Red Dragon, consisting of 14 spans, is 1315.9 meters. There is no other similar structure in Russia.

Krasnoyarsk Communal Bridge

Another bridge with a Russian banknote is located in Krasnoyarsk. His image can be seen on the 10-ruble note. The bridge was built during the time of Nikita Khrushchev, and for a long time it held the title of the longest bridge in Asia. The length of this bridge, which connected the banks of the Yenisei, is 2300 meters. The builders of the Krasnoyarsk Bridge used a unique technology: the construction and closure of the bridge arches without safety supports. This made it possible to significantly reduce the cost of construction and reduce its time. The tectonic image of the communal bridge made it one of the main symbols of Siberia.

"Dancing Bridge" in Volgograd

The bridge across the Volga, which is located in Volgograd, has glorified this city throughout the world. In 2010, the bridge was subjected to critical wind loads, which caused it to sway in vertical plane. The amplitude of the bridge's vertical vibrations was then about 1 meter, but neither the bridge supports nor the road surface were damaged. This was the reason why the bridge began to be called “dancing”. The bridge was secured after installing special shock absorbers - dampers.

Suspension bridge in Semey (Kazakhstan)

The suspension bridge in Semey (Kazakhstan), which is only the 17th such structure in the world, was built with the participation of specialists from the Japanese company IHI. It passes through the Irtysh and connects Russia, Kazakhstan and China, but recently it was left without an owner, since the city is not able to maintain such an object. The total length of the bridge is 1086 meters, the length of the main span is 750 meters. High pylons of the bridge in Lately are increasingly attracting suicidal citizens. There are several known cases when rescuers and police had to remove unbalanced people from there.

Bridge in Disna (Belarus)

The oldest road bridge in Belarus (it is said that it is more than a hundred years old) is located in the city of Disna, whose population is only 2,000 people. The bridge supports are made of stone, the spans are made of metal, and the decking is wooden. The latter fact is the reason why buses are prohibited from crossing this bridge.

Palace Bridge in St. Petersburg

Perhaps the most famous bridge in St. Petersburg, which is also a symbol of this city, spans the Bolshaya Neva and connects the center of northern Palmyra with Vasilyevsky Island. The construction of this bridge began in 1912, and already in 1916, 34 cars with a load of more than 600 pounds drove onto the bridge to test its strength. The decoration of the bridge was not done at that time - only wooden railings were installed. They were replaced with cast iron ones with Soviet symbols already in 1939, and some wooden structures stood until 1978. It is worth noting that in 1917 the Palace Bridge was renamed the Republican Bridge, and its historical name was returned to it only in 1944.

No matter how hard the architects tried to “bring” the bridge closer to the water, it still covers more than half of the buildings of the Admiralty, the Exchange and the Kunstkamera. It was simply impossible to escape this, given the low banks of the Neva and the preservation of conditions for navigation. The length of the bridge, consisting of five spans, is 250 meters, and the width is 27.7 meters.

Today, during various events, the spread wings of the bridge are used as a projection screen for showing documentaries.

Zhivopisny Bridge in Moscow

The Zhivopisny Bridge in Serebryany Bor was opened in 2007, connects the banks of the Moscow River and is part of Krasnopresnensky Prospekt. There are many cable-stayed bridges in the world, but the design of the Zhivopisny Bridge is so unique that it has become one of the main attractions of the capital.

The bridge is an arched structure with a fan arrangement of cables. Noise barriers were installed on both sides of the bridge. At the top point of the arch, according to the project, it was planned to place an observation deck, but later questions were considered about placing a restaurant, a television studio and, finally, a registry office in a hanging ellipsoidal module. However, this unique facility has not yet been put into operation. The module itself (length - 33 m, width - 24 m, height - 13 m) is fixed on the bridge, but there are no elevators yet.

The length of the Zhivopisny Bridge is 1460 meters, the width is 37 meters, the number of cables is 72, the height of the arch is 105 meters. The bridge is raised above the surface of the water to a height of 30 meters. The bridge foundations are made on drilled piles with a diameter of 1.5 meters and a length of 20-40 meters. Each bridge foundation is based on 60 piles.

The longest bridge in Russia

The longest bridge in Russia is the bridge over the Kama River, which is the largest tributary of the Volga and is famous for its. The bridge is located near the village of Sorochi Gory and is an element of the P239 highway. The total length of the bridge, the construction of which began in 1992 and was commissioned in 2002, is 13,967 meters (1,608 meters passes through the Kama, and 69.8 meters and 549.9 meters across the Kurlyanka and Arkharovka rivers, respectively).

It is worth noting that the idea of ​​​​building this bridge was discussed back in Tsarist Russia, then it was returned to in the 1930s. After all, in the fall and during the period of ice drift it was simply impossible to cross the Kama. IN winter time Only cars weighing no more than 5 tons could drive onto the ice, and buses were prohibited from crossing the river. People had to cross the river on foot – 7 km. The longest Russian bridge solved all these problems.

Master's degree graduate of the Moscow Architectural Institute, regular participant in workshops and educational programs. In her graduate work, Zhanna explored bridges across the Moscow River, as well as the process of interaction between two professions - architect and engineer. According to her, Moscow, one of the most rapidly developing capitals in the world, needs new pedestrian and transport arteries that would connect parts of the city and cope with its congestion. We talked with Zhanna about the features of the capital's landscape and what new architectural solutions could be useful to the city.

- Tell us about the topic of your thesis and its relevance (in particular, about the collaboration between an engineer and an architect in the design of bridges across the river).

Bridges in Moscow arose almost with the birth of the city. The peculiarities of the capital's geography - hilly terrain and many rivers - made it necessary to build bridges. Historically, when crossing to the other side, the city entered a new phase of territorial and economic development. Today Moscow occupies a leading position among the most actively developing megacities (according to the Pricewaterhouse Coopers rating). In 2014, a competition was held to reorganize the embankments of the Moscow River. One of important aspects The new strategy was to strengthen connections across the river and build new bridges. A bridge is a complex engineering structure, but, like a building, it is a means of spatial organization of the environment. Road and pedestrian bridges across rivers designed in world practice have changed due to the use of more advanced structures, materials and new functional organization. The location in the city structure was also excellent. The purpose of my diploma was to study the historical and modern types bridges, understand exactly what changes have occurred, and propose new architectural solutions for Moscow. I really wanted to show how important the process of interaction between two professions is - an architect and an engineer.

- Creative componentvsPractical rationality.

For an architect, the image of a “bridge” is not so much in the designs, it is more used as a plot, as part of the shape of the object. For example, the philosophical concept of M. Heidegger is interesting: “The bridge rises “lightly and powerfully” over the river... It does not just connect the already existing banks. Actually, the bridge crossing exposes the shores as shores for the first time. Thanks to the bridge, they find themselves lying opposite each other.... A bridge is initially and essentially just a bridge, and in addition to this and on special occasions, as is commonly thought, it can express something else.” (Haĭ Degger M., Cacciari M.: two views on habitat. Sitar S. editor of the “theory” section//P magazinei20).

The content of the artistic image of the bridge is revealed in specific architectural forms. The language of these forms and aesthetic expressiveness depend on the properties of the building materials and structures used. The architect is intuitively responsible for tectonic truthfulness, the “play of forces” in designs, uses rhythm, scale, texture and color, techniques of nuance and contrast, connection with the context and thereby evokes certain emotions and semantic associations.

An engineer has a completely different type of thinking. Severe rationality is important to him. For an engineer, the shape of the bridge is utilitarian and unfolds in strict accordance with the character effective loads and based on technical and economic indicators.

In my graduation project, I managed to find a compromise between the creative component and practical rationality. For myself, I distinguish two types of designers - those who deny any ideas that go beyond the standard, and those who say “no, it’s impossible, damn it, but I’ll try to come up with something!” I was very lucky, I worked together with a young engineer from St. Petersburg, Alena Ivanova. Alena works at a large bridge-building company, JSC Transmost, in the software development sector. An amazing person who, in addition to high professionalism, is ready for incredible dedication to an innovative idea. At the concept stage, I drew sketches of what the new bridge could be like, generated ideas and artistic images, and Alena corrected and advised how this or that design would work better. When I was experimenting with new design schemes on conditional prototypes, Alena built virtual physically correct models and calculated them in a computer program with real loads. Of course, we were not always able to understand each other the first time, but mutual enthusiasm led us to positive results.

Modern technologies: how they influence the thinking of architects and the work of engineers. In particular, with regard to the materials used and design features.

In my pre-project research, I interviewed German engineer Mike Schlaich, head of the Schlaich Bergermann bureau. According to him, bridges should be elegant, lightweight and reflect the development of technology and materials. With students, they conduct experiments with composite materials - for example, they are designing a pedestrian bridge made of carbon fiber - very thin and durable. Mike Schleich told the story of how he was approached by an artist who had painted a multi-colored spring bridge. Everyone played this when they were kids, right? The engineer's task was to take this artistic idea as a basis, find a suitable type of design and implement it. It's amazing how a simple idea for a children's toy grew into a supporting structure.

The engineering direction in bridge construction is distinguished precisely by experiments with a beam thrown over an obstacle, personifying the idea of ​​a span. Overcoming a distance is seen as a challenge - “further, higher, easier.” On modern stage interest is shown in suspension bridges - the longest and lightest. For example, the Sky Park bridge in Sochi. The archetype of suspension bridges are vines and ropes suspended above the river and naturally, under the influence of their own weight, forming a reverse arch. The 520 Bridge in Seattle, which opened in 2016, uses innovative air-supported structures consisting of reinforced concrete hollow block supports and vertical support columns. Hollow support blocks are divided into cells and filled with water to stabilize the level of the road surface.

Currently, developments are underway in the field of prefabricated structures - inflatable ( « tensairity» - approx. auto.). Engineers use them mainly for military purposes, but the architect uses them completely differently. For example, a trampoline bridge over the Seine River in Paris ( So far this is still just a concept - approx. auto.).

Pedestrian bridges built from recycled materials - plastic, paper, polystyrene foam - are also interesting. And these are just a few examples!

Moscow landscape. Features and specifics. Advantages and disadvantages. And also - does Moscow really need additional bridges?

The most striking event in Moscow bridge construction was the master plan program of 1935. New blocks of residential and public buildings grew across the river. The flow of urban transport along the Garden Ring and other highways connecting the city center with its areas beyond the river increased. “The new Moscow needed new bridges: high and spacious passages over the river, technically advanced structures connecting the wide highways of the capital.” A special concrete plant was equipped for the construction of new and reconstruction of old bridges. Bridges were moved to new locations. In terms of its scale, construction over the river is included in the history of Moscow reconstruction along with such majestic constructions as the Moscow-Volga Canal and the Moscow Metro. Architectural competitions were organized for the construction of bridges. Each new bridge had its own independent artistic appearance.

The Moscow master plan program of 1971 continued an integrated approach to the problems and tasks of the city's development. Car-pedestrian bridges became an integral part of the new transport network of highways in the periphery. The bridges and embankments of this period were subject to weak architectural and spatial organization requirements. The activity of the architect was practically excluded, to the detriment of aesthetics. In the 2000s, bridge architecture was already commercial. Facilities were informed additional function, covered bridges-galleries appeared - trade or exhibition. Today there are not enough bridges in the city, both pedestrian and automobile. In total, the city has 49 bridges along 83 km of the Moscow River, which does not provide sufficient connectivity of the territories. The crossings are unevenly located: on the south-eastern section of the Moscow River for 14 km there is no possibility of crossing the river. Of all the bridges, only 24 are accessible to pedestrians. Not only quantitative changes must occur, but also qualitative ones.

- Features of the landscape of the Moscow River basin. What are the main things you need to know when designing a bridge?

The territories near the Moscow River are divided into urban, industrial and natural park. Depending on the designed context, the most environmentally friendly materials, efficient designs and types of road-embankment interface are used. The basis of any bridge project is its structural design: the ratio of span sizes. It is impossible to design a bridge without knowledge of the basic structural systems: beam, arch, frame-cantilever, suspension, etc. Bridges have a cross-sectional and longitudinal architecture. It's like the exterior and interior of a building. The plan geometry of the roadway is not necessarily a straight line. Pedestrian and bicycle bridges are curvilinear, undulating, and have observation platforms and places for rest.

It is important to understand both how we get to the bridge and how it fits into the urban environment. For example, bridges with a pronounced load-bearing structure (cable-stayed) in a historical environment will be stylistically discordant, but among skyscrapers - vice versa.

When designing, engineers take into account the hydrological regime (periods of ice drift and freeze-up), the highest and lowest water levels (high water and low water), the depth and condition of the fairway, the width of the river, the slope angle, and the class of navigation in this area. But you can find out more about this in the relevant regulatory documents.

- What should be the “ideal” modern bridge, and what kind of bridge does Moscow need?

The modern architectural trend is to rethink the bridge as a type of structure and make it part of urban life. It’s like a certain plot: there are embankments, parks, squares, and then there are bridges. They are all different and amazingly beautiful. And this is not only a transit road. It would be good to consider the Moscow River not as an obstacle, but, on the contrary, as a basis for the design of new bridges. The main waterway of the city is quite polluted, and the construction of new bridges using existing technologies will only worsen the condition. But if you set a healthy ecosystem as a task, you immediately want to find innovative solutions. Maybe combine with treatment facilities or block the water surface with one span, find an alternative to pile foundations for supports. The same is true of the lack of new public spaces near the river - the return of the traditions of bridgeheads would intensify new social activities. And there are also potentially effective spaces under the bridge.

I really want the union between the architect and the engineer to be renewed. Non-standard ideas and tasks motivate the engineering brain to search for alternative materials, innovative designs and technologies - breaking the mold in a good way.

- Favorite bridges of Moscow: assessment from an aesthetic and practical point of view.

In my research, I collected data and made a book about all the bridges across the Moscow River. The bridges are all different, each structure has its own peculiarity, history, and some details. It is important, I think, to preserve this as much as possible. And all new ideas are waiting for their implementation in new projects.

Bridges are an integral attribute of almost every river; they help overcome obstacles, thanks to them distances become shorter, and getting from point “A” to point “B” turns out to be more comfortable and faster. With the advent of new materials and technologies complex designs crossings are becoming a reality.

What is a bridge

Bridges are the continuation of a road over an obstacle. Most often they are laid through a water barrier, but they can also connect the edges of a ravine or canal. In connection with the development of transport infrastructure, bridges are being built in megacities for movement over roads, forming large interchanges. The main details of their design are spans and supports.

Classification of bridge structures

Types of bridges can be classified according to several criteria:

• according to the main purpose of use;
• constructive solution;
• building materials;
• depending on length;
• by service life;
• depending on the operating principle.

Since a man threw a tree from one bank of the river to get to the other, a lot of time has passed and a lot of effort has been put into the construction of engineering structures. As a result, different types of bridge designs emerged. Let's take a closer look at them.

Beam

The materials for their construction are steel, its alloys, reinforced concrete, and the first material was wood. The main elements of load-bearing structures of this type are beams and trusses, which transfer the load to the supports of the bridge base.

Beams and trusses form part of separate design, called "span". The spans can be split, cantilevered or continuous, depending on the connection scheme with the supports. The first of them have two supports on each edge, continuous ones can have a larger number of supports, depending on the need, and in a cantilever bridge the spans extend beyond the support points, where they are connected to subsequent spans.

Arched

For their manufacture, steel, cast iron, reinforced concrete casting or blocks are used. The first materials for the construction of this type of bridges were stones, cobblestones or monolithic blocks made from them.

The basis of the structure is the arch (vault). The connection of several arches by a road or railway track is an arch bridge. The roadbed can have two locations: above the structure or below it.

One of the varieties is a hybrid - an arched-cantilever bridge, where two semi-arches are connected at the top and resemble the letter “T”. An arched structure can consist of one span, and then the main load falls on the outer supports. If the bridge consists of several connected structures, then the load is distributed across all intermediate and outer supports.

Suspension bridges

The main materials for construction in this case are steel and reinforced concrete. Structures are erected in places where it is impossible to install intermediate supports. Load-bearing element are pylons connected by cables. To keep the bridge in a stable condition, the pylons are mounted on opposite banks, and a cable connection is pulled between them to the ground, where it is securely fixed. Vertical ones are attached to the stretched horizontal cables, also attaching chains that will support the bridge deck. Beams and trusses give rigidity to the canvas.

Cable-stayed bridges

Construction materials - steel, reinforced concrete. Like their suspended counterparts, their design involves pylons and cables. The difference is that the cable-stayed connection is the only one that connects the structure of the entire bridge, that is, the cables are not attached to horizontally tensioned carriers, but directly to the final supports, which makes the structure more rigid.

Pontoon

“Floating” crossings do not have a rigid frame and no connection with the shore. Their design is assembled from separate sections with a movable joint. A variation of this type of bridges are floating crossings. Most often, they are temporary structures that are used until ice is established on water barriers. They are dangerous during periods of strong roughness on the water, they make navigation difficult, and movement along them has restrictions for multi-ton trucks.

Metal bridges

Most modern bridges involve the use of metal in the load-bearing parts of the structures. For quite a long time, a metal bridge was considered the most durable type of structure. Today, this material is an important, but not the only component of bridge connections.

Types of metal bridges:

• Arched structures.
• Viaducts with spans.
• Hanging, cable-stayed.
• Overpasses with supports made of reinforced concrete, where the spans are assembled from metal connections.

Metal structures have the advantage of being easy to assemble, which is why almost all types of railway bridges are built from this material. The metal parts are industrially manufactured in a factory and the size can be adjusted. Depending on the load-carrying capacity of the mechanisms with which the installation will be carried out, factory blanks for the future one-piece connection are formed.

The structure can be welded from parts directly at the final installation site. And if previously it was necessary to connect many parts of one span, now a crane with a lifting capacity of 3600 tons can easily carry and hoist an all-metal span onto supports.

Advantages of metal structures

Iron is rarely used as a material for bridge construction due to its poor corrosion resistance. High-strength steel and its compounds have become a popular material. Its excellent performance qualities can be assessed on projects such as cable-stayed bridges with huge spans. An example is the Moscow Bridge across the Dnieper in Kyiv or the Obukhovsky Bridge in St. Petersburg.

St. Petersburg legends

In St. Petersburg there are plenty of different kinds bridges, there are also ancient ones that have become symbols of a bygone era, but their purpose has not changed, although they have acquired a flair of stories and romance. Thus, the Kiss Bridge attracts tourists with its name, but it comes from the name of the merchant Potseluyev, whose drinking house “Kiss” was located next to the crossing, and the name has nothing to do with romantic impulses.

The Liteiny Bridge has become overgrown with interesting legends, and the dramatic plot arose immediately upon its foundation. It is believed that one of the foundation stones of the supports was the Atakan sacrificial stone. Now he makes passers-by sad and provokes suicides. To appease the “bloody” boulder, some townspeople throw coins from the bridge into the Neva and pour red wine. Also, many claim that you can meet the ghost of Lenin at Liteiny.

Five longest bridges in Russia

Until the bridge across the Kerch Strait is built, the five large-scale crossings look like this:

• in Vladivostok. The length of the structure is 3100 m, the opening took place in 2012. The need for it was first thought about in 1939, but was implemented at the present stage.
• Bridge in Khabarovsk. Its length is 3891 m. It has two tiers. The lower one is open to rail traffic, and the upper one is open to road traffic. His image adorns the five thousand dollar bill.
• Bridge on the Yuribey River. It is located beyond the Arctic Circle in the Yamalo-Nenets Autonomous Okrug. The length of the structure is 2893 m.
• The bridge across the Amur Bay has a length of 5331 m. It was opened in 2012. It is interesting for its lighting system, which helps save up to 50% of electricity.
• across the Volga to Ulyanovsk. Its length is 5825 m. Construction took place over 23 years.

A modern bridge is not only an easy and quick way to get to the other side of a river, bay or sea, but also a real masterpiece engineering and construction art. Here are the most famous, beautiful and longest bridges in the world.

If Arab sheikhs compete in building super-skyscrapers, then for China such “toys” are bridges. In any case, seven of the ten longest bridges in the world were built in China.

But first, not about records, but about the most famous and beautiful bridges in the world.

Let's start the “tour”, perhaps, with a real legend.

1. Golden Gate Bridge (San Francisco, USA)

There is probably no person on earth who has not seen this bridge at least once in some movie - the Golden Gate in San Francisco, which was the largest suspension bridge in the world from 1937 to 1964. The length of the bridge is 1970 m. Its construction began on January 5, 1933 and took more than 4 years.

On May 27, 1937, at 6 a.m., the Golden Gate Bridge was opened, but only to pedestrians. For 12 hours the grandiose structure belonged only to them. And only the next day, at a signal from President Roosevelt, the first cars drove across the bridge.

The Golden Gate Bridge is undoubtedly the most recognizable bridge in the world, but it also holds the sad record of having the highest number of suicides. Almost every month someone throws himself down towards his tragic choice.

2. Tower Bridge (London, UK)

The no less famous Tower Bridge is one of the main symbols of London. It was opened in 1894.

Its unique feature is that the bridge's draw mechanisms open the thousand-ton structure in just 1 minute to allow ships to pass through. In addition, thanks to special galleries, pedestrians can walk across the bridge even when it is open.

Today, Tower Bridge is only pedestrian and is also used as a museum.

3. Vasco da Gama Bridge (Lisbon, Portugal)

This is the most long bridge in Europe. It is usually compared to the Chinese “Hangzhou”, but “Vasco da Gama” looks more organic and elegant, although it is inferior in length.

Its length is 7.2 km. It was opened on March 29, 1998, just 18 months after construction began, before Expo 98. The same year marked the 500th anniversary of Vasco da Gama's discovery of the sea route from Europe to India. Therefore, the bridge was named after the great traveler.

Despite the short construction period and the speed of work, during its construction all conceivable and inconceivable nuances were taken into account. Thanks to this meticulousness and care, today the Vasco da Gama Bridge can withstand winds of up to 250 km/h and earthquakes 4 and a half times stronger than the famous 8.7 magnitude Lisbon earthquake of 1755.

4. “Bosphorus Bridge” (Istanbul, Türkiye)

This bridge is famous for connecting Europe and Asia. It has become one of the symbols of modern Istanbul. The image of the bridge adorned the 1000 Turkish lira banknote. It is also a symbol of the unification of two continents.

For example, in 2007, the famous tennis match between American Venus Williams and Turkish tennis leader Ipek Shinolu took place right here. Since it was the first match between athletes from two continents, the Bosphorus Bridge was chosen as the meeting place. After the match ended, the tennis ball was thrown from the bridge into the Bosphorus.

Currently it is the 13th tallest in the world. Every day, the bridge carries about 200,000 units of various types of transport from continent to continent, and pedestrian traffic on this bridge is prohibited due to its frequent use as a place to commit suicide.

5. Banpo Fountain Bridge (Seoul, South Korea)

The Banpo Fountain Bridge in Seoul became the only one of its kind and even entered the Guinness Book of Records as the longest fountain on a bridge.

The total length of the fountain with the romantic name “Moonlight Rainbow” is 1140 m. Thanks to the play of light rays, the fountain seems to “dance” and shimmer.

You can admire this miracle not only from the shore, but also from the first tier of the bridge, from where an equally wonderful view opens up and you get the feeling that you are inside a rainbow waterfall.

6. “Brooklyn Bridge” (New York, USA)

Another recognizable and legendary bridge, a landmark of New York, is the Brooklyn Bridge. This is the first bridge in the world to be suspended on steel cables.

Its length is 1825 meters. It carries both vehicular and pedestrian traffic - along it it is divided into 3 parts. The side lanes are for cars, and the middle lane, at a fairly significant elevation, is for pedestrians and cyclists.

In 1964, the Brooklyn Bridge was included in the list of National Historic Landmarks of the United States. Today, this one of the symbols of New York remains one of the popular recreation and cycling destinations for city residents.

7. Millennium Bridge (UK)

The amazing “Millennium Bridge”, or “Gateshead Millennium” - a bridge over the River Tyne connecting the cities of Gateshead and Newcastle upon Tyne (Northern England); The world's first tilting bridge.

Thanks to its hydraulics, the bridge tilts to allow ships to pass under it. It took more than two years to build, but after installation its dimensions corresponded to the plan with fantastic accuracy up to 2 mm.

It is the only swing bridge in the world. That is, when ships pass, it turns 40 degrees. From the side, this movement of the bridge resembles the blinking of a large eye.

The turning process is extremely impressive and only takes no more than 4 minutes. Over the course of a year, the bridge “blinks” about 200 times.

8. Oliveira Bridge (Sao Paulo, Brazil)

The Oliveira Bridge is the only bridge in the world with a support in the shape of the letter X. It has become one of the main symbols of Sao Paulo thanks to the special shape of the masts, a height of 138 meters, 144 powerful steel cables and chic LED lighting.

His full name is “Octavio Frias de Oliveira.” Two crooked masts, bound in concrete in an X shape, make up its support mast. It was inaugurated on May 10, 2008, and the bridge was named after the publisher of the newspaper Fola de Sao Paulo, who died in 2007 at the age of 94. Octavio Frias de Oliveira was one of the most influential people in Brazil.

At the end of December 2008, special light diodes were installed on the cables and masts of the bridge, creating various lighting effects reminiscent of a New Year tree.

9. Ponte Vecchio Bridge (Florence, Italy)

Ponte Vecchio is one of the oldest and most famous bridges in Italy, a symbol of Florence. This is the only bridge that has retained its original appearance for dozens of centuries. It is located on the same place where three previous bridges were built: first - the bridge of the era Ancient Rome, then a bridge that collapsed in 1117, and finally a bridge that was demolished during a flood in 1333. And since then, the Ponte Vecchio has never been destroyed. Even the German troops, retreating from Florence in 1944 and blowing up many buildings in the city and all the bridges, spared the Ponte Vecchio. They say that they were also captivated by the beauty of this unique bridge.

There are only 2 such three-arch stone bridges in the world. “Vecchio” consists of 3 arches, the main one is 30 m apart, two on the sides are 27 m long.

The Florentine Bridge is also interesting because on its sides there are houses that have housed trading shops since the Middle Ages. But in 1593, by order of Cosimo de' Medici, Duke of Tuscany, meat sellers were expelled from the bridge, and jewelers took their place. Since then, “Ponte Vecchio” has had another name – “Golden Bridge”. A corridor was built right above the bridge back in 1565, which is still preserved.

10. Khaju Bridge (Isfahan, Iran)

This bridge is a unique example of Iranian architecture and is located in Isfahan. Travelers enjoyed it back in the 17th century, and today it is one of the most famous bridges in the East and one of the most beautiful bridges on Earth.

“Khaja” was built in Isfahan for a reason. In the 17th and 18th centuries, Isfahan was located on the famous Silk Road and was then one of the largest cities in the world.

Apart from aesthetics, the Khaju Bridge has many other useful functions, for example, a water dam that carries water to all the gardens of Isfahan. In addition, during the intense summer heat, “Khaju” allows you to hide from the sun in its shady corners. The lower level of the bridge is for pedestrians, while the upper level is accessible to horses and carriages.

And now - finally, record holders.

11. Harbor Bridge (Sydney, Australia)

It is Sydney's largest bridge and one of the largest steel arch bridges in the world. It is one of Sydney's main attractions. Because of its remarkable shape, the bridge received the comic name “Hanger” from Sydney residents. The bridge was opened on March 19, 1932. The model for the bridge was New York's Hell Gate Bridge.

The bridge carries road, bicycle, pedestrian and rail traffic. The Harbor Bridge connects the business, central part of the city with the North Shore and crosses Port Jackson Bay.

The arched span of the bridge is 503 meters long. This is just a little less than the 518-meter span of the longest steel arch bridge, the Fayetteville Bridge, across the gorge along which the New River flows, near Fayetteville (West Virginia, USA). Since nowadays, if it is necessary to build a bridge with a long span, they choose the design of a suspension or cable-stayed bridge (they are much lighter and cheaper than a rigid arch bridge), the Harbor Bridge will remain on the list of the largest arch bridges in the world for a long time.

The steel arch of the "Hanger" weighs 39,000 tons. It rises 139 meters above sea level and at the same time has a clearance of 49 meters above the water surface of the bay, which ensures the passage of any sea vessels under the bridge. Interestingly, the height of the arch can increase by about 18 cm on hot days due to the fact that the metal expands when heated.

The total length of the entire bridge is 1,149 meters. The width of the bridge is 49 meters. The total weight of the bridge is 52,800 tons. The steel structural elements of the bridge are connected by rivets, the total number of which exceeds six million.

Since October 1, 1998, regular excursions have been held on the bridge for people over 10 years old - climbing along the side arch of the bridge to its top, from where a breathtaking panorama of the city opens. To climb, you only need shoes with rubber soles and a special suit with insurance, which is issued on the spot,

12. Run Young Bridge - the longest bridge across the river

The Run Yang Bridge was built in China in 2007, has a length of 35.66 kilometers and spans the widest point of the Yangtze River.

Its construction cost the country a total of $700 million. The supporting towers of this bridge reach a height of 210 meters.

13. Hangzhou Bay Bridge (China) - the longest transoceanic bridge in the world

The Great Transoceanic Hangzhou Bay Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge in Hangzhou Bay off the east coast of China. Connects the cities of Shanghai and Ningbo (Zhejiang Province).

It opened to traffic on May 1, 2008, although it was assumed that the bridge would not be completed until Expo 2010. Construction of the bridge began on June 8, 2003 and continued until 2007, after which closed testing of the bridge was carried out for several months.

The length of the bridge is about 36 km, traffic is carried out on three lanes in each direction. This is the third longest bridge across water spaces. The design speed of the bridge is 100 km/h, service life is more than 100 years.

14. Dam bridge over Lake Pontchartrain (USA)

The sixth longest bridge (in total) in the world and the second longest bridge across bodies of water is located in Louisiana, USA. The bridge consists of two parallel roads, the longest of which is 38.42 km (23.87 mi) long.

The bridge connects the towns of Metairie and Mandeville, located on opposite shores of Lake Pontchartrain. The bridge is supported by more than 9,000 concrete piles. 13 km (8 miles) south of the northern coast, bridges have lift spans.

Due to the frequent fog that surrounded the bridge from time to time, barges crashed into it several times.

15. The Qiazhou Bay Bridge (China) is the longest bridge over the water surface.

Just a few years ago, the longest bridge in the world located above the water surface was put into operation in China - the Qiazhou Bay Bridge. The length of this structure is 42.5 kilometers.

It is immediately necessary to clarify why clarification is necessary - the longest bridge over the water surface, and not just the longest in the world. The fact is that for some reason the car viaduct in Thailand and railway viaducts in China are considered to be the longest bridges in the world. More about them a little later. These are overhead bridge-type structures for cars and railway transport. Of course, this is quite controversial. After all, if the structure stands over flat land, then it is, as it were, not quite a bridge. If we proceed from the fact that a bridge is something that helps to overcome any water obstacle: a river, a gorge, or, as in the case of the Qiazhou Bridge, a sea bay, then the Qiazhou Bay Bridge should be given the status of “the longest in the world". But, since it is so customary, we will consider it “the longest above the sea surface.”

The bridge is T-shaped and the interchange in the center of the bay allows for easy turning in any direction.

Construction of the Qiazhou Bay Bridge began in 2007 and lasted 4 years. During this time, 5,200 columns were installed on the seabed.

16. Bang Na Highway (Thailand)

This bridge, located in Thailand, is not actually a bridge, it is just a long elevated highway.

The Bang Na Expressway is an elevated bridge-type structure in the city of Bangkok. The total length is 54 kilometers. Its width, with three lanes in each direction, is 27.2 meters.

The total cost of the project, whose construction lasted five years from 1995 to 2000, amounted to more than $1 billion. This structure was built to combat traffic jams at the entrance to the city and travel across this bridge is paid, while the existing free ground alternative is available.

17. Tianjin Viaduct (China) - the second longest bridge in the world

It was built as part of the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway and the Beijing-Tianjin Intercity Railway. Construction began in 2008 and upon completion in 2010, its length was 113,700 meters. The opening of the bridge took place in June 2011.

The viaduct begins slightly southeast of Beijing South Railway Station, then crosses two districts (Anqi and Guangyang) of Langfang urban district and ends in the north of the central part of Tianjin.

18. Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct (China) - the longest bridge in the world

It is the one that is included in the Guinness Book of Records as the longest bridge in the world. It was built as part of the Beijing-Shanghai High Speed ​​Railway. Construction began in 2008 and its length was 164,800 meters; the opening of the bridge took place on June 30, 2011.

It is located in Eastern China in Jiangsu province, between the cities of Shanghai and Nanjing. Approximately 9 km of the bridge is laid over the water surface; the largest body of water that crosses the Danyang-Kunshan Viaduct is Lake Yangcheng.

19. Akashi Bridge (Japan) - the longest suspension bridge

It is famous for its largest central span of a suspension bridge in the world - its length is 1991 meters.

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is located in Japan and connects the cities of Kobe and Awaji on the islands of Honshu and Awaji, respectively. At the time of the commissioning of this bridge (April 5, 1998), it set three world records: the longest suspension bridge, the most expensive bridge and the highest bridge. The first two records still belong to the Akashi-Kaikyo, but the title of the highest bridge went to the Millot (or Millau) viaduct in France.

So, on to the numbers. The height of the pylons (the foundations on which the entire bridge structure rests) is 298 meters, which is approximately the height of a 90-story building. The distance between the pylons is 1991 meters.

The length of the suspension bridge is considered to be precisely the distance between the pylons, that is, the central span (in fact, this distance was supposed to be 1990 meters, but during the construction of the bridge a very strong earthquake occurred, due to which a fault in the earth’s crust occurred between the two foundations, thereby pushing apart these bases are another 1 meter). If we add to this length the distance from the pylons to the shore, we get a total length of 3911 meters! The length of all the cables of this structure is such that if you tie them all in one line, it will be possible to encircle the globe 7 times!

20. Bridge to Russky Island (Vladivostok, Russia) - the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world

Two years ago, the bridge to Russky Island was opened. The bridge to which the right to be called the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world was transferred. And, of course, what makes me especially proud is that it was built not somewhere in China or the USA, but in Russia, in Vladivostok.

We remind you that the length of cable-stayed and suspension bridges is calculated by the central span, and not by the total length of the bridge. That is why the bridge to Russky Island has every right to be called the longest. The distance between its pylons is 1104 meters. The previous record, 1088 meters, belonged to the Chinese Sutong Bridge. But in terms of total length, the bridge to Russky Island is inferior to many cable-stayed bridges; its figure here is 3,100 meters. For example, the same “Sutun” has a total length of more than 8 kilometers. But this is no longer so important, the record is “ours”!

The technical opening of the structure took place on July 2, 2012. On July 28, a bike ride was organized across the bridge. And on August 1, 2012, traffic was opened for all transport.

And, in conclusion, another photo of the cable-stayed bridge in Vladivostok, also opened in August 2012. For some reason, it is often confused with the bridge to Russky Island, although it is very easy to distinguish them - by the shape of the pylons; this one has them in the form of spread “horns”. This structure is called a bridge across the Golden Horn Bay.

Photo: wikipedia.org, flickriver.com, famouswonders.com, mypostalcards.files.wordpress.com, whyevolutionistrue.wordpress.com, forensicgenealogy.info, filfranck.com, jackiejouret.com, archicentral.com, cntraveler.com, architecture. about.co, badfon.ruforums.vwvortex.com, architypereview.com, wonderfull-tourism.blogspot.com, people.cs.nctu.edu.tw, studyblue.com, inkedinblack.wordpress.com.

"Construction Rules", No. 57, December 2017

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