China: the longest suspension bridge in the world

The entire body of the Sutong Bridge that crosses the Yangtze River was completed yesterday 18-6. With a length of 1,088 meters, the Sutong Bridge will surpass the Tatara Bridge, 890 meters long of Japan, to become the longest suspension bridge in the world.

Sutong's construction costs amounted to US $ 845 million, linking the two main cities of Suzhou and Nantong of Jiangsu Province.

In addition to the longest bridge in the world, Sutong Bridge also has two tallest towers in the world 300.4 meters - equivalent to a 100-storey building. These two towers stand on the world's largest base - an area equivalent to a football field and built 80 meters deep into the river. The longest strand of Sutong Bridge is also the longest cable in the world up to 577 meters long.

Another special thing about the Sutong Bridge is the first time a large building has been supplied with materials by a domestic steel producer.

It is expected that Sutong Bridge will open the technical vehicles in the first quarter of 2007, 1 year earlier than the plan. The torch of the 2008 Beijing Olympics will also cross this bridge.

Photo of Sutong Bridge on May 29 (Photo: Reuters)

Sutong Bridge with a length of 1,088m, becomes the longest bridge in the world (Photo: Chinadaily.com.cn)

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