Yi Sun-sin Bridge, Suspension bridge in Yeosu and Gwangyang, South Korea
This suspension bridge extends 7,415 feet (2,260 meters) across the South Sea, featuring a main span of 5,069 feet (1,545 meters) and towers reaching 896 feet (273 meters) in height.
Construction began in November 2007 and the bridge officially opened to traffic on May 12, 2012, just in time for the international Expo exhibition held in Yeosu that same year.
The bridge honors Admiral Yi Sun-sin, a celebrated Korean naval commander from the Joseon Dynasty who invented the ironclad turtle ship and successfully defended Korea against Japanese naval invasions in the 16th century.
The toll-free bridge provides four vehicle lanes across its 89-foot (27-meter) width and includes dedicated bicycle paths, connecting Gwangyang with Yeosu and reducing travel time between the two cities significantly.
The bridge towers were completed in just 11 months, a remarkably fast construction timeline compared to similar structures like Denmark's Great Belt Bridge, whose towers took 30 months to build despite being shorter.
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