Split dropdownlijst in tweeen na elke 7 items

Ik heb een veel te lange dropdownlist die ik in tweeen wil splijten om de 7 items. Moet te doen zijn want het is bootstrap, maar mijn code plaatst overbodige tags over heel de html structuur, ziet iemand wat ik fout doe?

Dit is wat ik veel nabootsen:
<?
<ul class="dropdown-menu dropdown-menu-large row" role="menu">
<li class="col-sm-6">
<ul>
<li><a href="life-insurance.html">Life Insurance</a></li>
<li><a href="life-insurance.html">Home Insurance</a></li>
<li><a href="life-insurance.html">Travel Insurance</a></li>
<li><a href="life-insurance.html">Pet Insurance</a></li>
</ul>
</li>

<li class="col-sm-6">
<ul>
<li><a href="life-insurance.html">Boat Insurance</a></li>
<li><a href="life-insurance.html">Auto Insurance</a></li>
<li><a href="life-insurance.html">Bike Insurance</a></li>
<li><a href="life-insurance.html">Business Insurance</a></li>
</ul>
</li>
</ul>
?>

Mijn code:

<?
$tel = 1;

foreach ( $nmenuccr as $cmenu ) {

// If id matches and category id is 11 (services) split in half
if ( $cmenu['id'] && $cmenu['catid'] == '11' ){

if($tel == 1) {
$hmenu .= '<li class="col-sm-6"><ul>';
}


$hmenu.= '
<li><a href="'.$cmenu['alias'].'.html">'.$cmenu['title'].'</a></li>
';

if(($tel % 7) == 0){
$hmenu .= '</ul></li> <li class="col-sm-6"><ul>';
}
$tel++;


if(($tel % 7) != 0){
$menu .= '</li>';
}
//Else use the normal dropdown layout
}else{

if (strlen($cmenu['title']) > 25){
$shortstrmen = substr($cmenu['title'], 0, 25) . '...';

$hmenu.= '
<li><a href="'.$cmenu['alias'].'.html">'.$shortstrmen.'</a>
';
}else{
$hmenu.= '
<li><a href="'.$cmenu['alias'].'.html">'.$cmenu['title'].'</a>
';
}

}

}
?>

En dit krijg ik als resultaat met die code:

https://jsfiddle.net/sms16v44/