{"id":712929,"date":"2026-06-19T05:02:19","date_gmt":"2026-06-19T05:02:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/712929\/"},"modified":"2026-06-19T05:02:19","modified_gmt":"2026-06-19T05:02:19","slug":"record-breaking-bridge-longer-than-worlds-tallest-building-just-opened","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/712929\/","title":{"rendered":"Record-Breaking Bridge Longer Than World\u2019s Tallest Building Just Opened"},"content":{"rendered":"

Taiwan has officially opened the <\/a>world’s longest asymmetric, single-mast bridge<\/a>\u2014the Danjiang Bridge, a landmark infrastructure project spanning the mouth of the Tamsui River in Taipei, the Taiwanese capital.<\/p>\n

Stretching around 3,018 feet (920 meters), the bridge\u2014described as “the world\u2019s longest single-tower, asymmetric cable-stayed bridge<\/a>“<\/a>\u2014is longer than the height of Dubai\u2019s Burj Khalifa, the current world\u2019s tallest building<\/a>, which rises to about 2,717 feet.<\/p>\n

The bridge designed by ZHA, the architectural firm founded by the late architect Zaha Hadid, sits at the estuary of the Tamsui River, a popular destination where residents gather to watch sunset over the water. That setting played a central role in shaping the design.<\/p>\n

Read More on News<\/p>\n

ZHA said the bridge\u2019s sculptural 200\u2011meter mast (around 656 feet) was engineered to optimize structural performance \u201cwithout impairing views of the setting sun,\u201d with the structure made as slender as possible while still supporting its 450\u2011meter (around 1,476 feet) main span in extreme weather and seismic conditions.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

Charles Walker, director at ZHA and the lead architect on the project, told Newsweek that protecting the natural view was a key design principle.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe sunset view down the Tamsui River is protected, and we didn\u2019t want to frame or enclose the sunset,\u201d Walker explained, noting that this consideration\u2014along with the asymmetric geography of the riverbed and surrounding landscape\u2014led to the decision to use a single tower.<\/p>\n

He added that the asymmetric design was not only an aesthetic choice but also a practical one, responding to the site\u2019s uneven terrain and the low mountains on the Bali side of the river.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

The opening of the Danjiang Bridge comes amid a broader shift toward sustainability in recent infrastructure projects.<\/p>\n

In Finland, the Kruunuvuorensilta bridge in Helsinki\u2014the world\u2019s longest bridge<\/a> dedicated to trams, pedestrians and cyclists, which opened in April\u2014was designed explicitly to reduce reliance on private cars and promote low\u2011emission mobility, forming part of a wider push for greener urban transport.<\/p>\n

Elsewhere in Europe, new cycle and pedestrian bridges, such as the \u201cBlue Carpet\u201d cycle bridge in the Netherlands, have incorporated sustainably sourced materials, including FSC\u2011certified timber, while encouraging walking and cycling as alternatives to car travel. <\/p>\n

Similarly, projects like Norway\u2019s Paradis Bridge demonstrate how advanced composite materials can reduce maintenance needs and extend a bridge\u2019s lifespan, lowering its long\u2011term environmental footprint.<\/p>\n

‘The Design Follows the Integrity of Its Structure’<\/p>\n

Walker told Newsweek that the cable\u2011stayed, single\u2011mast structure was also the most efficient and economical solution for a span of this size.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe zeroed\u2011in on a cable stay arrangement with a single tower to minimize visual and environmental impact, in addition to optimal cost\u2011effectiveness,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

Once that structural approach was determined, the focus turned to refining the form. Walker said the architect\u2019s role was \u201cshaping the elements to produce the most elegant proportions when seen in silhouette against the sky.\u201d<\/p>\n

The bridge\u2019s defining mast was split at its base\u2014a decision welcomed by engineers for its structural benefits and incorporated seamlessly into the design. Walker explained that the project aimed to ensure \u201cthe design follows the integrity of its structure,\u201d creating a form that appears balanced and harmonious from every vantage point.<\/p>\n

\"AMinimizing Environmental Impact<\/p>\n

Beyond visual considerations, reducing environmental disruption was another central priority.<\/p>\n

Walker said that limiting the number of piers in the water was essential to protecting the riverbed. A long\u2011span, single\u2011tower design allowed engineers to minimize construction impact on the estuary, which is home to an important natural ecosystem.<\/p>\n

ZHA also emphasized that detailed 3D modelling and mapping were used to determine the placement of the mast and deck height, ensuring safe navigation for vessels while maintaining unobstructed views along the river.<\/p>\n

The firm added that the single\u2011mast configuration reduces the structure\u2019s footprint in the river, aligning with environmental programmes aimed at preserving the estuary\u2019s ecology.<\/p>\n

\"DanjiangConnecting Taipei\u2019s Transport Network<\/p>\n

While its sculptural design has captured global attention, the bridge is also a major piece of transport infrastructure.<\/p>\n

The Danjiang Bridge forms part of a broader effort to upgrade northern Taiwan\u2019s transport network. It links Highway 2 on the eastern side of the river with key routes on the western side, including Highway 15, the West Coast Expressway and the Bali\u2011Xindian Expressway.<\/p>\n

According to ZHA, the crossing will ease congestion on existing local roads and reduce traffic pressure on the nearby Guandu Bridge, located around 5 kilometres upstream.<\/p>\n

The improved connectivity is expected to streamline travel between Tamsui District, central Taipei, New Taipei City and key transit hubs such as Taoyuan International Airport and the Port of Taipei.<\/p>\n<\/p>\n

Built for the Future<\/p>\n

The bridge has also been designed with future mobility in mind.<\/p>\n

ZHA said the structure includes dedicated pedestrian and cycle lanes and has been engineered to accommodate a future extension of the Danhai Light Rail system across the river\u2014positioning it as a multi\u2011modal transport corridor rather than just a road crossing.<\/p>\n

Walker said that this approach reflects a broader philosophy behind the project: infrastructure should not only serve practical needs but also enhance its surroundings.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe believe that a properly designed bridge can enhance the landscape rather than detract,\u201d he said, describing that goal as \u201cour primary focus.\u201d<\/p>\n

Do you have an architecture or design-related story to share? Let us know via s.kim@newsweek.com, and your story could be featured by Newsweek.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Taiwan has officially opened the world’s longest asymmetric, single-mast bridge\u2014the Danjiang Bridge, a landmark infrastructure project spanning the…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":712930,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[56],"tags":[230,228,226,227,52239,229,88,3998],"class_list":["post-712929","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-arts-and-design","tag-architecture","tag-arts","tag-arts-and-design","tag-artsanddesign","tag-bridge","tag-design","tag-entertainment","tag-taiwan"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/712929","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=712929"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/712929\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/712930"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=712929"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=712929"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=712929"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}