April 15, 2024 | Allison Robertson

14 of the World's Most Impressive Bridges


Engineering Marvels

From the longest and tallest bridges, to the widest and busiest bridges, these impressive structures hold world records for their sheer size and capabilities. 

Here are 14 of the most impressive bridges in the world.

Bridge split images

Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, China

The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China is a whopping 102 miles long, making it the world’s longest bridge. 

It took over 10,000 people to construct it over just four short years, and cost $8.5 billion.

Danyang–Kunshan Grand BridgeElías Cababie Daniel, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons

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Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge

The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge opened in 2011 and connects Shanghai to the town of Nanjing, the capital of China’s Jiangsu province.

China, Shanghai: Longest bridge in the worldullstein bild, Getty Images

Millau Viaduct, France

France’s Millau Viaduct bridge holds the current title of the tallest bridge in the world—even surpassing the Eiffel Tower in height. It stands a whopping 343 meters (1,125 feet).

millau viaduct, franceW. Bulach, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons

Millau Viaduct

The Millau Viaduct opened in 2004 and straddles the Tarn Valley between Clermont-Ferrand and Béziers and Narbonne.

It’s popular with tourists who like to canoe underneath the bridge for a magnificent view and a different perspective.

Millau ViaductBearFotos, Shutterstock

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Ribblehead Viaduct, North Yorkshire

The Ribblehead Viaduct bridge is comprised of 24 stone archest and sits 32 meters (105 feet) above the moorland below. It stands as one of the UK’s best examples of Victorian engineering.

The Ribblehead ViaductDaniel_Kay, Shutterstock

Ribblehead Viaduct

Built back in the 1870s, the bridge is located in the middle of the Three Peaks Mountain challenge and is on the border of Cumbria and Yorkshire.

Ribblehead ViaductDaniel_Kay, Shutterstock

Vasco da Gama Bridge, Portugal

The Vasco da Gama Bridge in Portugal measures over seven miles long, making it the longest bridge in Europe. Not only that, this magnificent structure was built to withstand winds of up to 155mph.

Vasco da Gama BridgeLuis Santos, Shutterstock

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Vasco da Gama Bridge

Opened in 1998, the Vasco da Gama Bridge connects northern and southern Portugal, and spans the entire Tagus River. Interestingly enough, the bridge cannot be accessed by foot.

Vasco da Gama BridgeARoxoPT, Shutterstock

Beipanjiang Bridge, China

The Beipanjiang Bridge measures over 560 meters (1,837 feet) in height, making it the highest bridge in the world. 

Duge BridgeShakyIsles, CC BY-SA 4.0, Wikimedia Commons

Beipanjiang Bridge

The Beipanjiang Bridge links the cities of Liupanshui and Qujing, reducing travel time by up to three hours, making it a critical stretch of roadway in China.

Beipanjiang BridgeHighestBridges, CC BY-SA 4.0 , Wikimedia Commons

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Golden Bridge, Vietnam

The Golden Bridge opened in 2018 and instantly became a major tourist attraction with its distinctive design that includes massive hand structures that appears to be holding up the bridge.

golden bridge, vietnamTeerachat paibung, Shutterstock

The Golden Bridge

The Golden Bridge is 150 meters (492 feet) long and is for pedestrians only. It was designed to connect the cable car station with the gardens, avoiding a steep incline, and to provide a scenic overlook for tourists.

Golden Bridge (Vietnam)Hien Phung Thu, Shutterstock

Pont du Gard Aqueduct, France

The Pont du Gard Aqueduct in France claims the title of one of the world’s oldest bridges. This Roman monument was built in the first century AD, and was declared a historical monument by the French government in 1840.

Pont du Gard Aqueduct, FranceMimova, Wikimedia Commons

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Pont du Gard Aqueduct

The Pont du Gard Aqueduct bridge was originally designed to supply the city of Nîmes with water. It has three glorious tiers and is 50 meters (164 feet) tall.

Pont du GardTomas Marek, Shutterstock

Golden Gate Bridge, USA

The Golden Gate Bridge is an easy contender for the world’s most famous bridge. Its opening in 1937 resulted in a week-long celebration in San Francisco.

Golden Gate Bridge 1982S.Fujioka, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons

The Golden Gate Bridge

This iconic bridge had originally cost $35 million to build, and has now been approved for an additional $400 million project to protect it against earthquakes.

The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California.brock brannen, CC BY 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

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Hartland/New Brunswick Bridge, Canada

Built in 1901, the Hartland bridge in Canada is the longest covered bridge in the world. It was declared a National Historic Site in 1980.

Hartland Covered BridgeGisling, CC BY-SA 2.5, Wikimedia Commons

Hartland/New Brunswick Bridge

Also known as the “kissing bridge”, the 391-meter (1,283 feet) one-way bridge dates back to when young men “trained” their horses to stop halfway across the bridge in order to steal a few kisses in secret, before continuing on the other side.

Hartland covered bridgeDennis Jarvis, CC BY-SA 2.0 , Wikimedia Commons

Eshima Ohashi, Japan

The seemingly incredibly steep Eshima Ohashi bridge is the largest rigid frame bridge in Japan. Evidently, it looks steeper than it really is.

Eshima Ohashi Bridgemstk east, CC BY 2.0, Wikimedia Commons

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Eshima Ohashi

The Eshima Ohashi bridge has a maximum gradient of 6.1 per cent. It is just over a mile long and connects Matsue and Sakaiminato.

Eshima Ohashi, Japanmstk east, Flickr

The 1915 Canakkale Bridge, Turkey

Opened in 2022, the 1915 Canakkale Bridge in Turkey is now the longest suspension bridge in the world. Overall, this incredible structure spans over 2.9 miles long and took five years to build.

1915 çanakkale bridgeKenan TALAS, Shutterstock

The 1915 Canakkale Bridge

This massive bridge won the record from the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge in Japan, and will serve a connecting link on Turkey’s new Kınalı-Tekirdağ-Çanakkale-Balıkesir motorway.

1915 Canakkale BridgeTurkey Photo, Shutterstock

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Sky Bridge, Czech Republic

The Sky Bridge in the Czech Republic is another record breaker, holding the title of the world’s longest suspension footbridge, measuring 721 meters long (2,366 feet) and just 1.2 meters wide (4 feet).

Sky Bridge, Czech RepublicVladimka production, Shutterstock

Sky Bridge

The Sky Bridge sits 95 meters (312 feet) above a steep valley offering a unique—and possibly unsettling—walk in the Dolni Morava resort.

Sky Bridge, Czech RepublicLukasz Tyczkowski, Shutterstock

George Washington Bridge, USA

The George Washington bridge is the busiest bridge in the world, reportedly carrying over 250,000 vehicles every day. It is also the world’s only suspension bridge with 14 vehicular lanes, and also has pedestrian and bicycle lanes.

george washington bridge, usaBelikova Oksana, Shutterstock

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George Washington Bridge

The double-decker suspension bridge crosses the entire Hudson River connecting New Jersey and New York and is one of seven famous bridges in the Big Apple.

George Washington Bridge, USASongquan Deng, Shutterstock

Rod El Farag Axis Bridge, Egypt

The Rod El Farag bridge, also known as the Tahya Misr bridge opened in 2019 and immediately became the widest cable-stayed bridge in the world.

rod el farag axis bridgeTamer A Soliman, Shutterstock

Rod El Farag Axis Bridge

The Rod El Farag Axis Bridge stretches for 540 meters (1,772 feet) along the River Nile and contains pedestrian lanes and glass-floored walkways, becoming an impressive tourist attraction for those wanting unimaginable views of the river.

Glass floor bridge Arab Contractors

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