The Tallest Bridge In The World Cost $147 Million

Beipanjiang bridge in southern China is the highest bridge in the world, allowing you to drive almost 2,000 feet over the turbulent Beipan River below. Construction on the innovative project took three years and cost a whopping $147 million. Million-dollar research grants on how to create the highest bridge in the world helped launch construction, which would end up making this bridge, also known as the Duge bridge, higher than even the Millau Viaduct in France-- which thanks to its towers is technically taller, but not higher off of the ground than China’s engineering marvel.

The creation of the Beipanjiang bridge completely changed travel in China’s Guizhou province, which is known for all the tall bridges that have to be made to navigate the rocky and often treacherous terrain. The bridge was even more effective than China’s high-speed rail in the area-- it cut time crossing the valley from 3 hours to just 5 minutes. China actually has a reputation for tall bridges-- it has the most tall bridges in the world with more than 250 bridges over 100 meters high. One of these is the Sidu River Bridge, which held the record for highest bridge before the Duge bridge was built. So, was the Beipanjiang bridge a worthwhile undertaking? Is there more than just its height that makes it so impressive? And just how far ahead of the rest of the world is China when it comes to super-tall bridges? You’ll have to click play and find out!

CHAPTERS:
00:00 Intro
00:43 Records broken by the Beipanjiang Bridge
02:54 One of the world’s largest construction projects
04:22 It completely changed commuting in Southern China
05:56 How China became famous for tall bridges

[dixonpinfold]

In California, $147 million is the price for an initial study to look into the possibility of a thorough study.

[wanglj]

In Cambridge, MA, USA (where Harvard and MIT are), a 20 meter two-lane bridge's rebuilt took some 6 years and $50 million.What a contrast!

[babyjirezielacosta]

I have fear of heights but would like to experience travelling on this bridge. Amazing Engineering!

[marklawrencesenerez]

$147 million ??? Thats LA mansions price 🤣

[jshotwell]

$147 million is cheap compared to how much it would have cost to built a bridge like this in the USA.

[karlsmith]

Cutting down travel time from 4 hours to 1 hour

Or even cutting it down to 5 minutes, I'd have to say that, in itself, justified the cost of building that bridge

[henryrollins]

In the US it would have cost 1 BILLION and would be constructed in 25 years...

[lukeslater]

This bridge LOOKS ABSOLUTELY INSANE😱😳.

[paofang]

My admiration toward the government for their investment to such history bridge rather than for war like USA

[archstanton]

*147 million U.S. dollars IS DIRT CHEAP.*

*The same bridge would cost well north of a couple BILLION dollars if built in the USA.*

*The Gordie Howe bridge, which is not much longer than this bridge, being built in Detroit is going to cost nearly 5 BILLION dollars and it's being built on flat land.*

[rr-jpkg]

In the UK Hammersmith bridge is still in a state of disrepair and neglect. The council doesn't have the money to repair it. This means the poor locals have to put up with diverted traffic, traffic jams, noise and air pollution until someone comes up with the money for the bridge. What a complete contrast from this video?

[northseawolf]

$147m or about £110m would get you half a mini roundabout in England 😂

[jhall]

$140 million is cheap as hell. Gotta love that Chinese labor. That’s a $140 Billion bridge in the US.

[amitghata]

My wishlist to visit such modern architecture.

[nicksonsicnawa]

The price tag is equal to 2 F35 fighter jet. See the difference between China and U. S,

[beshinerondozai]

enough respect for the people of china who work tirelessly to improve human life

[KM-rstc]

The chinese government had built so many infrastructure for its people today.
The highest bridge in the world in Guizhuo was neccessary to connect East and West Kunming in China
🇨🇳🐼

[ZZZ-zlmz]

Such a marvel of engineering only cost 147 million dollars. Golden Gate bridge which is smaller in size costed $35M. That is the dollar value at 90 years ago. In US today, it would cost more to just build a road of same length on the ground.

[paulmak.]

It's so cheap for that price. I was expecting nothing less than half a billion dollar. If you are building that kind of bridge in US or Canada, you will be expecting nothing less than half a billion dollar

[PlayRewindRepeatPRRP]

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