Bridges of the world

[edit] Akashi Kaikyo Bridge, Japan

Since its completion in 1998, the Akashi Kaikyo has been the longest central span suspension bridge in the world, at 1,991 m (6,532 ft), and the fourth tallest. It links the city of Kobe on the mainland of Honshu to Iwaya on Awaji Island. The bridge was designed with a stiffening girder system, allowing it to withstand high winds and earthquakes of up to 8.5 magnitude.

[edit] Baluarte Bridge, Mexico

This is the highest cable-stayed bridge in the world, and the second-highest overall, with a height of 403 m (1,322 ft). It is located along the Durango–Mazatlán highway and has a total length of 1,124 m (3,688 ft).

[edit] Brooklyn Bridge, New York, USA

Completed in 1883, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the United States. It is a hybrid cable-stayed/suspension bridge that connects the island of Manhattan with Brooklyn by spanning the East River. It opened in 1883, and its main span of 486.3 m (1,595.5 ft) made it longest suspension bridge in the world until 1903. To prove the bridge was stable, showman, P.T. Barnum led 21 elephants and 17 camels over the bridge in May of 1884. This event was cleverly illustrated on the cover of the New Yorker.

[edit] Charles Bridge, Prague, Czech Republic

One of the most popular tourist attractions in the Czech Republic, this stone Gothic bridge, completed in 1402, was vital as the only means of the crossing the Vltava river. The bridge is 621 m (2,037 ft) long and rests on 16 arches. It is includes 30 baroque statues and statuaries that line both sides.

[edit] Golden Gate Bridge, San Francisco, USA

The most famous suspension bridge in the world, the Golden Gate Bridge is San Francisco’s main tourist attraction. It has a main span of 1,280 m (4,199 ft), across the channel between the northern tip of the San Francisco peninsula and Marin County. It opened in 1937 and was the longest suspension bridge main span in the world until 1964.

[edit] Great Belt Bridge, Denmark

The Great Belt Bridge was opened in 1998 and runs between the Danish islands of Zealand and Funen. With a total length of 6,790 m (22,277 ft) and a peak height of 254 m (833 ft), it is the third longest suspension span bridge and 8th tallest bridge in the world.

[edit] Humber Bridge, England, United Kingdom

Upon completion in 1981, the Humber Bridge was the longest single-span suspension bridge in the world, with a main span of 1,410 m (4,626 ft). It spans the Humber estuary, connecting the East Riding of Yorkshire with North Lincolnshire.

[edit] The Iron Bridge

The Iron Bridge at Coalbrookdale in the UK, was the first bridge (or indeed civil engineering structure) in the world to be made entirely from cast iron. East Shropshire was an important industrial area thanks to coal deposits near the surface, and it was here that Industrial Revolution was born. The bridge was completed in the 1780’s and spans 30.5 m.

[edit] Millau Viaduct, Millau, France

This cable-stayed bridge spanning the valley of the River Tarn, is the tallest bridge in the world, with a structure height of 343 m (1,125 ft). The tallest of the seven piers, at 244.9 m (803.8 ft) is the tallest structure in France. Since it opened in 2004 it has been heralded as one of the greatest engineering achievements of all time.

[edit] Pont Jacques Chaban-Delmas, Bordeaux, France

Completed in 2013, this is a vertical-lift bridge over the Garonne River in Bordeaux. With a total length of 670 m (2,200 ft), and a longest span of 100 m (330 ft), this is the longest vertical-lift bridge in Europe.

[edit] Ponte Vecchio, Florence, Italy

A medieval stone arch bridge over the Arno River, notable for still having merchants’ shops along it as would have been traditional when the original bridge was constructed in Roman times. The bridge has three segmental arches, with the main span being 30 m (98 ft). It was the only bridge in Florence to survive the retreat of the Nazis during the final stages of the Second World War.

[edit] Rialto Bridge, Venice, Italy

Completed in 1591, this is the oldest of the four bridges that span Venice’s Grand Canal. The old stone bridge is one of the icons of Venice, recognisable by its two inclined ramps with archways that lead to a central portico.

[edit] Sidu River Bridge, China

With a height of 496 m (1,627 ft), this suspension bridge has held the record for being the world’s highest bridge since its completion in 2009. Located in the Hubei Province, it crosses the valley of the Sidu River, and incorporates H-shaped towers and a truss-stiffened main span.

[edit] State Route 520 Floating Bridge, Washington, USA

The ‘State Route 520 Bridge’, as it is known, is a six-lane pontoon structure 2.4 km in length, making it the world’s longest floating bridge.

For more information, see State Route 520 Floating Bridge.

[edit] Sydney Harbour Bridge, Sydney, Australia

A famous symbol of Australia, this steel arch bridge across Sydney Harbour was completed in 1932. The bridge carries roads for vehicles and railroads as well as bicycle and pedestrian traffic between the North Shore and the central business district of the city. It remains the tallest steel arch bridge in the world, measuring 134 m (440 ft) from top to water level.

[edit] Tower Bridge, London, England

Completed in 1894, Tower Bridge is an iconic symbol of London and perhaps the most famous moveable bridge in the world. Spanning the River Thames, it is a combined bascule and suspension bridge. The lower bascule deck opens to an angle of 86-degrees in just 5 minutes. The two parts of the deck are counterbalanced by two bascules weighing over 1,000 tons each. Two horizontal walkways that are designed to withstand the tensile forces exerted by the suspended bridge sections, tie the two bridge towers together at the upper level.

[edit] Zhijinghe River Bridge, China

With a height of 294 m (965 ft), this is the highest arch bridge in the world. The bridge crosses the valley of the Zhijinghe River and was completed in 2009.

[edit] Related articles on Designing Buildings

• 7 Engineering Wonders of the World.
• Akashi Kaikyo Bridge.
• 9 of the world’s most impressive structures.
• Bridge construction.
• Building of the week series.
• Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel.
• Civil engineering dream projects.
• Clifton Suspension Bridge.
• Five bridges worth visiting during a UK staycation.
• From Calcutta to Kolkata - legacy and modernisation.
• Garden bridge.
• Going the extra mile to extend the lifespan of the Menai Suspension Bridge.
• Illusionist bridge.
• Lucky Knot Bridge.
• Nine Elms to Pimlico bridge.
• Pontoon bridge.
• Queensferry Crossing.
• State Route 520 Floating Bridge.
• Submersible bridge.
• Swing bridge.
• The Iron Bridge.
• The Millau Viaduct.
• Top Architectural Wonders of Dubai.
• Tunnels of the world.

[edit] External references

• 10 Most Today - 10 most famous bridges in the world