China produces and consumes about 60 percent of the worlds cement.
One of them is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway that cuts straight across Lake Pontchartrain in southeastern Louisiana.
A satellite image of Lake Pontchartrain.
The Causeway can clearly be seen bisecting the lake.
One was completed in 1956 and the other, a slightly longer version, was completed in 1969.
Since that year, it has been holding on to the title of the worlds longest bridge over water.
Also unique at the time was the manner of construction.
Previously, bridge components were cast-in-place.
So they started probing the Chinese claim and soon found a flaw.
But Causeways officials argue that some of that length comes due to a curve in the bridge.
The actual distance traversed by the bridge over water is only about 25 km.
The Causeways officials were relieved to have their title back, but not content.
Causeway General Manager Carlton Dufrechou said they can even challenging Jiaozhou’s aggregate length claim.
“The Qingdao Bridge curves and has three entry/exit points, Dufrechou told Guinness.
The Causeway is actually two parallel bridges of 24 miles each with an aggregate length of 48 miles.
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway’s direct, point to point overwater distance is 24 miles.”
At least, the title will stay with China.
Photo credit: Yan Runbo
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.
Photo credit: Robert Holmes/CORBIS
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.
Photo credit:Glenn/Flickr
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway.
Photo credit:CNN
Satellite image of Jiaozhou Bay bridge.
Photo credit:Dailyoverview
Photo credit: unknown
Photo credit: News.cn
Photo credit: Getty Images
Sources:Wikipedia/NOLA/NOLA/NOLA
