Hangzhou Bay Bridge-World’s Longest Sea Bridge

Hangzhou Bay Bridge, is a bridge with cable-stayed bridge portion across Hangzhou Bay off the eastern coast of China. It was linked up on June 14, 2007 and connects the municipalities of Shanghai and Ningbo in Zhejiang province. The bridge is the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world, although it does not have the longest cable-stayed main span. The opening ceremony was held on June 26, 2007 with great domestic media publicity, though after the opening ceremony, the bridge would only be used for test and evaluation purposes. It was opened to the public on May 1, 2008.

Built to withstand typhoons that hit the eastern Chinese seabord near Shanghai, as well as shifting soil conditions, the concrete-and-steel bridge took three years to complete and was one of China's most challenging construction projects.

With three lanes in each direction and a rest and refuelling area at its middle, the bridge links Cixi City in Zhejiang province with Jiaxing City to the north, shortening the journey between Shanghai and the major port of Ningbo by 120 km (75 miles).

Its unique design combines the use of both viaducts and cables and serves as a dual purpose. It will still allow large ships to be able to pass underneath while traffic passes over them. It is a long anticipated addition to the communities. For years, there has been a problem connecting the two busy industrial hot spots because of the many miles that separate them. With the bridge in full action soon, the two communities can join forces and combine efforts to build the commerce and boost industries and resources.

The bridge will no doubt attract sight seers from all around the world. Anyone who is a bridge lover will certainly be drawn to the bridge and are anxiously awaiting the opening. Businesses in China are equally as eager for the bridge to open as it will draw in billions of dollars from tourism and mark a new spot on the map for attracting visitors to China.
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