The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, the world's longest suspension bridge, spans 2,023 metres and connects Europe and Asia. Opened on March 18, 2022, in north-west Turkey, it stretches from Gelibolu on the European side to Lapseki in Asia. The bridge cost €2.5 billion (just over £2 billion) to build, according to Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan.
Record-breaking span and historical significance
The bridge surpasses Japan's Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, completed in 1998, by 32 metres. Construction began in 2017 across the Dardanelles Strait. The 2,023-metre span commemorates 2023, the centenary of the Republic of Turkey's founding. The name '1915' refers to the Ottoman victory in World War I that led to the republic's declaration in 1923.
President Erdogan said: "Turkey has overtaken Japan, which has the longest bridge in the world in terms of midspan, and has taken the place." He added: "Canakkale, which has been the apple of the eyes of various civilisations, cultures and societies for thousands of years, embraces a brand new future today. We have come together to inaugurate the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge, which we see as a ruby necklace over the Canakkale Strait."
Drastic reduction in travel time
Since opening, the bridge has eliminated the need for 90-minute ferry crossings, slashing journey times by up to 93%. The project aimed to improve connectivity between the European and Asian sides of Turkey.
Future challengers to the record
Despite holding the record, the 1915 Çanakkale Bridge may soon be surpassed. Italy has proposed a bridge linking the mainland to Sicily, stretching 3,300 metres. This plan has been considered multiple times: a detailed design was developed in the 1990s but cancelled in 2006, revived in 2009 and shelved again in 2023, with fresh proposals emerging in 2025.
Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni said: "It is not an easy task but we consider it an investment in Italy's present and future, and we like difficult challenges when they make sense." Concerns over earthquakes, strong currents, and disruption to bird migration routes have been raised.
