World’s longest continuous bridge over water: world record near New Orleans, Louisiana

“Because of Chinese engineering breakthroughs, the 5,189-column, four-span concrete bridge north of New Orleans has been dethroned by Guinness World Records for the longest bridge in the world on water.”

“But the change did not come without controversy, with many Pontchartrain loyalists arguing that the new champion, a 25.84-mile-wide bridge-block project height near Qingdao, China, is only 26.1 miles long Compared to the 23.79 miles of the Pontchartrain, it is on Open Waters 

“Guinness threatened to award the man 58 -new title: Long Bridge Over Water (Continued). However you decide, the heart is half an hour away.”.

“On August 30, 1956, the Lake Pontchartrain Crossing opened across Lake Pontchartrain, Louisiana. The Lake Pontchartrain Crossing is the longest bridge over water in the world. The Lake Pontchartrain Crossing connects in the city of New Orleans, Louisiana and a smaller bridge According to National Geographic Magazine, community on the North Shore of Lake Pontchartrain. The Lake Pontchartrain road helped residents on both sides of the bridge .

“People who worked in the city saw a significant reduction in travel time. The bridge also boosted retail and restaurant businesses in the North Town by providing access to more to New Orleanians and tourists.”.

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway (French: Chaussée du lac Pontchartrain), also known as The Lake Pontchartrain, is a permanent connection of two parallel bridges spanning Lake Pontchartrain in southeastern Louisiana, United States. The length of the two bridges is 23, 83 miles. The 38.35 km south of the crossing is located in Metairie, Louisiana, and the northern end is located in Mandeville, Louisiana, both in the metropolitan area of ​​New Orleans for the longest period of water in the world. It previously was listed as longest bridge over water in the world; in 2011, in response to the opening of the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China, Guinness World Records created two categories for bridges over water: Lake Pontchartrain Causeway then became the longest bridge over water (continuous), while the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge became the longest bridge over water (aggregate).

“The bridges are supported by 9,500 concrete pilings. The two bridges feature a bascule, which spans the navigation channel 8 miles (13 km) south of the north shore.”

“For decades Lake Pontchartrain Causeway was listed by Guinness World Records as the longest bridge over water in the world. In July 2011 the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in China was named by Guinness World Records as the ‘longest bridge over water’.[4] At that time there was some controversy in the United States as supporters of the former holder of the record, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, disagreed with Guinness World Records not calling the causeway the longest.

“Supporters made this claim based on its own definition i.e., the length of a bridge physically over water and concluded that the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway spans 23.79 mi (38.28 km), and was therefore the longest. The Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is only 25.9 kilometers across the water. However, Guinness World Records, using measurements that include the entire structure, such as the land bridges at the ends and the underwater tunnel, estimated the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge to be 26.5 miles ( 42.6 km) long.

“Following this controversy, in July 2011 Guinness World Records created two categories for bridges over water: continuous length and total length over The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway remains the longest bridge over water (continued) while the Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is the longest bridge over water (series). (Wikipedia).

Bridge Components

-The southbound bridge has 2,246 spans (decks). Each span is typically 28’ in width by 56’ in length. Southbound was completed in 1956.

-The northbound bridge has 1,506 spans. Each span is typically 28’ in width by 84’ length. Northbound was completed in 1969.

-The spans consist of monolithically-cast, precast prestressed concrete girders, decks and rails.

-The spans have a 10 foot clearance with average water levels.

-The spans are supported on precast pile bents resting on top of 54” diameter hollow, precast, post-tensioned concrete piles. The southbound pile bents have two piles each and northbound have three piles each (to support longer span length). Over 9,000 piles support the bridges. Piles average 90’ in length. (official website)