June 30, 2011 marked the opening of the new record setting largest bridge in the world. The 26.4 mile, 110ft wide, bridge connects Qingdao with an airport built on a nearby island, and with the flourishing industrial city of Huangdao. The Y-Shaped bridge cost over 10 Billion Yuan, equivalent to $1.5 Billion.
Although the bridge will be offered for free today, and throughout the first month, users of the newly constructed bridge will have to fork over 50 Yuan, almost $7.75 each passing.
The bridge will save drivers on average of 30-40 minutes. A high price to pay, but Chinese City Officials expect 30,000 cars to pass over every day. At that rate, it will only take 6,452 days to break even. Or just less than 18 years. Hmm.
