World’s longest bridge: Zaha Hadid’s final project comes to life in Taiwan

Taiwan has reached a major milestone in one of its most ambitious infrastructure projects: the final segment of the steel deck of the Danzjiang Bridge has recently been installed, linking the eastern and western banks of the Tamsui River estuary for the first time. Completion of this key phase confirms the long-awaited opening date of the bridge — May 12, 2026.

The project, designed by the late Pritzker Prize-winning architect Zaha Hadid, is much more than a transportation structure. The bridge has become a symbol of Taiwan’s architectural ambition and engineering prowess. Its significance is heightened as one of Hadid’s final designs, on which she personally worked until her death in 2016. The project was originally announced in 2015, at the peak of her career.

Once completed, the bridge will be the world’s longest asymmetrical single-pylon bridge, stretching 920 meters across the Tamsui River estuary near Taipei. The central pylon, 200 meters tall — nearly 70 stories — supports spans of 450 meters to the west and 175 meters to the east.

The asymmetrical design, noted by CNN, reflects Hadid’s signature style: “rounded edges and gently curving forms,” making her design instantly recognizable even with the limitation of a single supporting pylon.