Modes of travel differ depending on where you’re going—you might be on the road, in the air, or on water. But when you want to be on the road, and also be above ground or water, the answer is obvious: bridges. These human-made marvels represent a world of possibilities that connect you, literally, from one place to another.
Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge (China)
In June 2011, this bridge gained the title of the world’s longest bridge according to the Guinness World Record. That’s pretty special in and of itself. The longest in the world. For comparison, at 165 kilometers, it is over 4 times longer than the world’s longest bridge over water. Another noteworthy point about this bridge is that it has a section 9 kilometers long above the sprawling and ever-flowing waters of Suzhou’s Yangcheng Lake.
Bang Na Expressway (Thailand)
This impressive road bridge, which is 54 kilometers long and six lanes wide, is in fact an elevated tolled highway that sits directly above another non-tolled highway. It was seen as a solution to Bangkok’s perennial problem of traffic despite its unique spot as the longest road bridge, it is just the sixth-longest overall bridge in the entire world.
Akashi Kaikyō Bridge (Japan)
There is something inherently special about suspension bridges. All the longer bridges are types of bridges that have multiple spans, but this one is the longest suspension bridge. In other words, the longest bridge span between support pillars. For comparison, it is 50% longer than the Golden Gate Bridge’s main span. Despite its unique spot as the longest road bridge, it is just the sixth-longest overall bridge in the entire world
Hong Kong–Zhuhai–Macau Bridge (China)
At 55 kilometers, this is the longest aggregate bridge over water (it’s just not one continuous bridge): that’s a very long drive over water. But most importantly, the bridge is over the sea; in other words, it’s the longest fixed-link sea crossing. The infrastructure also incorporates a tunnel 6.7 kilometers long—the first completely submerged offshore tunnel in the country.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (USA)
This bridge is, in fact, two parallel bridges that run uninterrupted for 38 kilometers (or about 38 minutes non-stop if driving the speed limit). Flytrippers’ other co-founder Andrew says it’s a unique experience: in the middle of the bridge, you can look in every direction and see nothing but water on all sides.