Qingdao Haiwan Bridge
Encyclopedia
Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is a roadway bridge in eastern China's Shandong
province. It transects Jiaozhou Bay
, connecting Huangdao District
, the city of Qingdao
and Hongdao Island (the bridge is "T" shaped with 3 entry/exit points, see map). Opened on 30 June 2011, it reduces the road distance between Qingdao and Huangdao. The bridge opened at the same time as the nearby Qing-Huang Tunnel
, both part of the Jiaozhou Bay Connection Project.
Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is 42.5 kilometres (26.4 mi) long, making it according to Guinness World Records
the world's longest bridge over water (aggregate length) . The longest bridge over water "continuous length" is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
, the difference being the latter runs continuously over water while Jiaozhou Bay Bridge has parts over land. It is estimated Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is over water for 25.5 kilometres (15.8 mi).
The cost of the bridge stated by the official state-run television company CCTV reported the cost being 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion). However, other sources have stated higher costs.
. It is designed to be able to withstand severe earthquakes, typhoons, and collisions with ships. The bridge is supported by more than 5,000 pillars, 35 metres (114.8 ft) wide, carrying six lanes and two shoulders, and cost more than 10 billion yuan (US$1.5 billion).
On the same day the bridge opened, the Qing-Huang Tunnel
opened. It also transects Jiaozhou Bay
, also connecting Huangdao District
and the city of Qingdao
, between the narrow mouth of the bay which is 6.17 kilometres (3.8 mi) wide. The tunnel is 9.47 kilometres (5.9 mi) long.
Concerns regarding the bridge's safety were raised when Chinese media reported that the bridge was opened with faulty elements,such as "incomplete crash-barriers, missing lighting and loose nuts on guard-rails", with workers stating that "it would take two months before finishing all of the projects related to the bridge". Shao Xinpeng, the bridge's chief engineer, claimed that in spite of the safety report the bridge was safe and ready for traffic, adding that the problems highlighted in the reports were not major.
Shandong
' is a Province located on the eastern coast of the People's Republic of China. Shandong has played a major role in Chinese history from the beginning of Chinese civilization along the lower reaches of the Yellow River and served as a pivotal cultural and religious site for Taoism, Chinese...
province. It transects Jiaozhou Bay
Jiaozhou Bay
The Jiaozhou Bay is a sea gulf located in Qingdao Prefecture of Shandong Province. It was a German colonial concession from 1898 until 1914....
, connecting Huangdao District
Huangdao District
Huangdao District is a district in Qingdao, Shandong, China. It is situated on the west bank of Jiaozhou Bay. It is identical to Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone which was launched in 1985 after the zone was merged with Huangdao District and set up the Free Trade Zone in...
, the city of Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
and Hongdao Island (the bridge is "T" shaped with 3 entry/exit points, see map). Opened on 30 June 2011, it reduces the road distance between Qingdao and Huangdao. The bridge opened at the same time as the nearby Qing-Huang Tunnel
Qing-Huang Tunnel
The Qing-Huang Tunnel is an under-sea road tunnel located in Shandong Province in eastern People's Republic of China. It transects Jiaozhou Bay, connecting Huangdao District with the city of Qingdao . It is long with a portion of that underwater...
, both part of the Jiaozhou Bay Connection Project.
Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is 42.5 kilometres (26.4 mi) long, making it according to Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records
Guinness World Records, known until 2000 as The Guinness Book of Records , is a reference book published annually, containing a collection of world records, both human achievements and the extremes of the natural world...
the world's longest bridge over water (aggregate length) . The longest bridge over water "continuous length" is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, or the Causeway, consists of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana, United States. The longer of the two bridges is long...
, the difference being the latter runs continuously over water while Jiaozhou Bay Bridge has parts over land. It is estimated Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is over water for 25.5 kilometres (15.8 mi).
The cost of the bridge stated by the official state-run television company CCTV reported the cost being 10 billion yuan ($1.5 billion). However, other sources have stated higher costs.
History
The bridge took four years to build, and employed at least 10,000 people. 450,000 tons of steel and 2.3 million cubic metres of concrete were used in the construction of the bridge, which was designed by the Shandong Gaosu GroupShandong Gaosu Group
Shandong Gaosu Group or Shandong Hi-Speed Group Corporation , , is a state-owned enterprise in Jinan, China, engaging in the construction and management of transportation infrastructure throughout the People's Republic of China...
. It is designed to be able to withstand severe earthquakes, typhoons, and collisions with ships. The bridge is supported by more than 5,000 pillars, 35 metres (114.8 ft) wide, carrying six lanes and two shoulders, and cost more than 10 billion yuan (US$1.5 billion).
On the same day the bridge opened, the Qing-Huang Tunnel
Qing-Huang Tunnel
The Qing-Huang Tunnel is an under-sea road tunnel located in Shandong Province in eastern People's Republic of China. It transects Jiaozhou Bay, connecting Huangdao District with the city of Qingdao . It is long with a portion of that underwater...
opened. It also transects Jiaozhou Bay
Jiaozhou Bay
The Jiaozhou Bay is a sea gulf located in Qingdao Prefecture of Shandong Province. It was a German colonial concession from 1898 until 1914....
, also connecting Huangdao District
Huangdao District
Huangdao District is a district in Qingdao, Shandong, China. It is situated on the west bank of Jiaozhou Bay. It is identical to Qingdao Economic and Technological Development Zone which was launched in 1985 after the zone was merged with Huangdao District and set up the Free Trade Zone in...
and the city of Qingdao
Qingdao
' also known in the West by its postal map spelling Tsingtao, is a major city with a population of over 8.715 million in eastern Shandong province, Eastern China. Its built up area, made of 7 urban districts plus Jimo city, is home to about 4,346,000 inhabitants in 2010.It borders Yantai to the...
, between the narrow mouth of the bay which is 6.17 kilometres (3.8 mi) wide. The tunnel is 9.47 kilometres (5.9 mi) long.
Concerns regarding the bridge's safety were raised when Chinese media reported that the bridge was opened with faulty elements,such as "incomplete crash-barriers, missing lighting and loose nuts on guard-rails", with workers stating that "it would take two months before finishing all of the projects related to the bridge". Shao Xinpeng, the bridge's chief engineer, claimed that in spite of the safety report the bridge was safe and ready for traffic, adding that the problems highlighted in the reports were not major.
See also
- Donghai BridgeDonghai BridgeDonghai Bridge is one of longest cross-sea bridge in the world. It was completed on December 10, 2005. It has a total length of and connects mainland Shanghai and the offshore Yangshan deep-water port in China. Most of the bridge is a low-level viaduct. There are also cable-stayed sections to...
- Hangzhou Bay BridgeHangzhou Bay BridgeHangzhou Bay Bridge is a long highway bridge with a cable-stayed portion across Hangzhou Bay in the eastern coastal region of China. It connects the municipalities of Jiaxing and Ningbo in Zhejiang province. At in length, Hangzhou Bay Bridge is one of the longest trans-oceanic bridges in the world...
- Lupu BridgeLupu BridgeThe Lupu Bridge , is a through arch bridge over the Huangpu River in Shanghai, China, connecting the city's Luwan and Pudong districts. It is the world's second longest arch bridge and steel arch bridge, after the Chaotianmen Bridge in Chongqing. The bridge, which cost 2.5 billion yuan , has a...
- Lake Pontchartrain CausewayLake Pontchartrain CausewayThe Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, or the Causeway, consists of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana, United States. The longer of the two bridges is long...