A marathon of a bridge

Built by Shandong Gaosu Group or Shandong Hi-Speed Group Corporation (SDHS) 山东高速集团有限公司, the world's longest sea bridge opened to traffic on 30 June 2011. From SDHS

On June 30, 2011, the world longest cross-sea bridge Shandong Hi-speed Jiaozhou Bay Bridge which is invested and operated by SDHS is officially open to traffic. Jiang Yikang, the secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and director of the Standing Committee of the People's Congress of Shandong Province, Jiang Daming, the deputy secretary of the CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and governor of Shandong Province, general Wang Dengping, the political commissar of North China Sea Fleet, Li Qun, member of the Standing Committee of CPC Shandong Provincial Committee and secretary of CPC Qingdao Municipal Committee, Sun Liang, the Party secretary and chairman of board of SDHS as well as other members of the leadership lineup of SDHS are present at the opening ceremony.

At 10:08 in the morning, accompanied by the martial music, the opening ceremony of Shandong Hi-speed Jiaozhou Bay Bridge grandly begins. Sun Liang and Li Qun deliver speeches in succession. At 10:30, Jiang Yikang announces the bridge is open to traffic. Immediately, the fireworks rise from all directions with doves flying into the sky. The cordial atmosphere floats over Jiaozhou Bay.

As the longest cross-sea bridge in the world, Shandong Hi-speed Bay Bridge is 41.58 Km long, whose opening to traffic realizes the dream of the people over the years in Qingdao, Huangdao and Hongdao and safeguards the economic development of Qingdao City. In addition, the construction of the bridge shows the strenth of SDHS and promotes the awareness and influence of SDHS.

No doubt, the Chinese language version sounds even more 'official' and 'lofty'.

(photo from SDHS)

Some interesting facts from UK Daily Telegraph

Length: 26.4 miles (almost 3 miles longer than the previous record holder)

Width: Six-lane expressway

Capacity: Expected to carry over 30,000 cars a day

Tensile strength: Able to withstand earthquakes of 8.0 magnitudes on the Richter scale, strong typhoons and the impact of a 300,000 tonne vessel

Made up of: 450,000 tonnes of steel and 2.3 million cubic metres of concrete, supported by 5,200 columns

Built by: More than 10,000 workers

Built in: Four years

Importance: Reduces the distance between Quingdao city and the Huangdao district by around 18 miles

Further information from SDHS on construction features and other details.

Channel 4 News


Crossing 41.58km (26.4 miles) in open sea above the water? It might seem like running a marathon.