Prestressed concrete is a structural material that allows for predetermined engineering stresses to be placed in members to counteract the stresses of loads. It combines the high-strength compressive properties of concrete with the high tensile strength of steel. These prestressed concrete girder bridges are currently used in bridge construction all over the world. Research on materials and superstructures of bridges has shown that prestressed concrete girder bridges have the longest life span and require less maintenance than other bridges. Furthermore, these bridges are increasingly being used due to their aesthetic versatility, strength, quality, and reduced construction time.
This post will take a look at the Top 10 World's Longest Prestressed Concrete Girder Bridges.
The ranking of the 'Longest Bridges in the World' below is based on 'Span.' 'Span' refers to the main span of a bridge which is equal to the center to center distance of adjacent towers, pylons, piers, or supports given in meters [m]. It does not mean the total length or overall length of multi-span bridges.
| Rank | Bridge | Span (m) | Country | Year |
| 1 |
Shibanpo Yangtze Bridge from Chongqing, China : 330m, 2006 Year |
330 | China | 2006 |
| 2 |
Stolma Bridge from Årland, Norway : 301m, 1998 Year |
301 | Norway | 1998 |
| 3 |
Raftsundet Bridge from Nofoten, Norway : 298m, 1988 Year |
298 | Norway | 1998 |
| 4 |
Sundoy Bridge from Leirfjord, Norway : 298m, 2003 Year |
298 | Norway | 2003 |
Top 10 World's Longest Prestressed Concrete Girder Bridges
1. Shibanpo Yangtze Bridge from Chongqing, China : 330m, 2006 Year
Considered the longest box girder crossing in the world, the Shibanpo Bridge connects the Chongqing’s Yuzhong and Nan’an Districts and dramatically improves traffic flow across the Yangtze River.
The new bridge runs parallel to the old bridge and is positioned 25 meters away from the older structure. The total length of the new 7-span box girder bridge is 1103.5 meters, with a main span that is 330 meters long and 19 meters wide.
To comply with strict river navigation requirements and match the aesthetics of the existing bridge the composite steel and concrete rigid frame structure provides a navigation clearance of 300 meters.
*Information and photo quoted from here
2. Stolma Bridge from Årland, Norway : 301m, 1998 Year
The municipality Austevoll south of Bergen on the western coast of Norway covers many islands. The two main islands Huftarøy and Selbjørn were connected by the Selbjørn bridge in 1979. The Stolma Bridge connects the two islands Selbjørn and Stolmen, further southwest in the municipality. The project consists of an 1800m new road and the Stolma Bridge with its overall length of 467m. The main span has a length of 301m, the longest free main-span worldwide for a concrete box-girder built using the free-cantilever method.
*Information and photo quoted from here
3. Raftsundet Bridge from Nofoten, Norway : 298m, 1988 Year
The Raftsundet Bridge, with a main span of 298m and a total length of 711m, was the longest concrete cantilevered span in the world when the cantilevers were joined on June 24th, 1998. The structure is exposed to a severe wind climate with a design gust wind speed of almost 60 m/s. The surrounding alpine topography with high mountains rising up to 1000m above sea level, creates fluctuating wind forces of large magnitude on the bridge. The dynamic wind climate severely affects the slender columns and the bridge beam
*Information and photo quoted from reference portfolio by AAS-JAKOBSEN
4. Sundoy Bridge from Leirfjord, Norway : 298m, 2003 Year
The Sundøy Bridge is a 2-lane road bridge designed as one of the world's longest concrete cantilever bridges with a main span of 298 m and a total length of 538 m. The main span is designed in high strength lightweight aggregate (LWA) concrete LC60, the side spans in normal density (ND) concrete C65. The bridge is high level, providing for a ship channel of 43.5 x 80 m. The bridge location is in the county of Nordland, close to the Arctic Circle with a very severe wind climate.
*Information quoted from the project portfolio pdf by STALITE
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