Bridges make our lives so much easier. They provide an efficient way for pedestrians and vehicles to travel from one place to another. Some bridges even span thousands of feet just to make the journey more convenient and better. If you’re interested in learning what the longest bridge in the world is, then keep on reading!

What is the longest bridge in the world?

There are over 600,000 bridges in the United States alone, and there are thousands more all over the world. Here’s a guide on 30 bridges from different countries, so we can determine the longest bridge in the world together.

Hartland Covered Bridge

Total length: 0.24 miles

The Hartland Covered Bridge is the longest-covered bridge in the world. Located in Canada, the Hartland Covered Bridge crosses the Saint John River. It connects Hartland to Somerville, New Brunswick.

While it only has one lane, the bridge offers a convenient route for passengers. Before its construction, the only way to cross the Saint John River was by ferry. Now, vehicles less than 13.8 feet tall can easily pass through the Hartland Covered Bridge.

The bridge holds a special place in the hearts of locals. Couples would often stop halfway across the bridge and share a kiss for good luck. In 1992, a happy couple even held their wedding on the bridge.

Ikitsuki Bridge

Total length: 0.24 miles

While the Ikitsuki Bridge isn’t the longest bridge in the world, it is the longest continuous truss bridge ever. A truss bridge refers to a type of bridge without hinges or joints on three or more of its supports.

Planning for the Ikitsuki Bridge began in 1983, and at the time, the only way to reach Ikitsuki was by ferry. In 1991, the construction finished, and the Ikitsuki Bridge opened to the public. This steel road bridge is 59 feet tall and around 21 feet wide. It connects Ikitsuki, Nagasaki to Hirado Island and allows vehicles to pass through.

Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge

Total length: 0.27 miles

The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is a skywalk in Zhangjiajie, a city in China‘s Hunan province. This bridge was designed and built as a tourist attraction. It opened to the public on August 20, 2016.

The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is the longest glass-bottomed bridge in the world. With a glass bottom, the bridge is transparent, so passersby can see what’s underneath. If you’re afraid of heights, then be prepared to conquer your fears with this one. The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge is 980 feet above the ground!

Only 800 visitors can cross the bridge at a time. The bridge also has three long swings attached to its underside. If you’re a thrill-seeker, you can try bungee jumping at the bridge. The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge has a 935-feet bungee jump, which is the highest bungee jump in the world.

Sky Bridge 721

Total length: 0.45 miles

Another candidate for the longest bridge in the world is the Sky Bridge 721. As its name suggests, the Sky Bridge 721 is 721 meters long or around 0.45 miles. It is currently the longest suspension footbridge in the world.

The Sky Bridge 721 stands around 312 feet above the ground of Dolni Morava, a municipality in the Czech Republic. Construction for the bridge began in 2021, and it opened to the public on May 13, 2022.

The Sky Bridge 721 is more than just a bridge. It features an educational trail called “The Bridge of Time”. It allows visitors to learn about the local town’s history with educational panels and interactive games as they pass through the bridge.

Quebec Bridge

Total length: 0.61 miles

Before the construction of the Quebec Bridge, there were only two ways to travel from St. Lawrence to Quebec City. Travelers could take the ferry or wait for the winter to freeze over the water and create an ice bridge.

In 1900, the construction of the Quebec Bridge to connect these two areas began. Unfortunately, the bridge collapsed twice in 1907 and 1916. These accidents didn’t just delay the construction. It also led to 88 deaths and several injuries. Finally, in 1919, the Quebec Bridge finally finished and opened. It now stands as a road, rail, and pedestrian bridge.

As the longest clear-span cantilever bridge in the world, the Quebec Bridge became a National Historic Site of Canada in 1995. It was also the first bridge in North America to use nickel steel.

Walkway over the Hudson

Total length: 1.28 miles

Also known as the “High Bridge”, the Walkway Over The Hudson is the world’s longest elevated pedestrian bridge in the world. This double-track railroad bridge spans the Hudson River, and it is a part of the Maybrook Railroad Line. It connects the east bank of Poughkeepsie, New York to the west bank of Highland, New York.

Unfortunately, it closed down in 1974 after a devastating fire damaged the railways. In 2009, the bridge re-opened as a pedestrian walkway. It became a part of the New York State Bridge Authority’s Walkway Over the Hudson State Historic Park.

In the same year, the American Society of Civil Engineers also honored the bridge as a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.

Evergreen Point Floating Bridge

Total length: 1.46 miles

The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge might not be the longest bridge in the world, but it holds another impressive title. According to the Guinness World Records, it is the longest floating bridge in the world.

The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge connects Seattle to its eastern suburbs by carrying the Washington State Route 520. Because of this, it is also called the 520 Bridge.

On April 2, 2016, the government of Washington celebrated its opening with around 40,000 attendees. The festivities included a ceremony, a fun run, and a community walk along the bridge. In 2017, the bridge received the 2017 Grand Conceptor Award.

Russky Bridge

Total length: 1.93 miles

Located in Russia, the Russky Bridge connects Russky Island and the Muravyov-Amursky Peninsula. It spans the Eastern Bosphorus strait at 230 feet above the water.

The Russky Bridge is the longest cable-stayed bridge in the world. It is a concrete and steel bridge with four lanes and a total width of 97 feet. The bridge’s initial purpose was to ease traffic for the 2012 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Conference at the Far Eastern Federal University on Russky Island.

Thankfully, the bridge’s construction ended in July 2012. It opened to the public months ahead of the conference.

Akashi Kaikyō Bridge

Total length: 2.43 miles

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is a suspension bridge in Japan. Construction of the bridge began in 1988, and it ended after a decade in 1998.

Despite its impressive length, the Akashi Kaikyo Bridge isn’t the longest bridge in the world. However, it is a crucial link in the Honshu-Shikoku Bridge Project. The bridge crosses the Akashi Strait and connects Kobe City on Honshu to Iwaya on Awaji Island.

The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge is also a popular tourist attraction. Tourists can avail of a tour that lets them walk down part of the bridge. They can even go up to one of the main towers on the bridge. At the top of the 948-feet tower, tourists can enjoy an amazing view of Japan.

1915 Canakkale Bridge

Total length: 2.86 miles

While the Sky Bridge 721 is the longest suspension footbridge ever, the 1915 Canakkale Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world. The 1915 Canakkale Bridge is only open to vehicles and not pedestrians.

Despite its name, the Canakkale Bridge isn’t actually from the 1900s. Its construction began in March 2017, and it ended recently on February 18, 2022. The “1915” in its name honors an important event in the history of Turkey. In 1915, the Ottoman Empire’s navy won against the United Kingdom and France’s navy during World War I.

Öland Bridge

Total length: 3.77 miles

The Oland Bridge connects the city of Kalmar on Sweden’s mainland to the island of Osland. It opened on September 30, 1972, as a road bridge for vehicles. It is 42 feet wide and has four lanes.

There are 156 pillars that support the bridge, and it also has a distinct hump on its western end. This hump was intentional as it provides ships with a vertical clearance of around 118 feet.

The Oland Bridge was the longest bridge in Europe until the Oresund Bridge opened in 1998. While it might have lost this title, the Oland Bridge remains the longest bridge in Swedish territory.

Mackinac Bridge

Total length: 4.99 miles

As its name suggests, the Mackinac Bridge spans the Straits of Mackinac. This suspension bridge connects Upper Michigan and Lower Michigan.

The Mackinac Bridge opened to the public on November 1, 1957. Before that, however, tragedy struck. Five workers died while construction was ongoing, and many believe their bodies were buried in the concrete. Of course, this is only a myth. A plaque by the bridge’s northern end honors the five men.

Unfortunately, this wasn’t the only misfortune to occur on the bridge. On September 10, 1978, a private plane smashed into the bridge’s suspension cables. Three U.S. Marine Corps Reserve officers were on board, and they all died as the plane fell into the Straits of Mackinac.

The Mackinac Bridge is among the longest bridges in the world. With a main span of 3,800 feet, it is also the third longest suspension span in the United States.

Øresund Bridge

Total length: 5 miles

The Øresund Bridge crosses the Øresund Strait to connect Denmark and Sweden. It has an underwater tunnel that makes up around 2.48 miles of the whole pathway. The bridge is only open to vehicles, and motorists must pay a toll fee to pass through.

In 2002, the bridge received the IABSE Outstanding Structure Award. It is also frequently referenced in various forms of media. For instance, the TV series The Bridge took its name from the Øresund Bridge. The setting of the story also took place around the bridge. Another example is the 2014 song, “Walk Me to the Bridge”, by the Manic Street Preachers.

Dhola-Sadiya Bridge

Total length: 5.69 miles

Dhola-Sadiya Bridge, or “Bhupen Hazarika Setu”, is a beam bridge in India. It spans the Lohit River and connects northern Assam and eastern Arunachal Pradesh. The Dhola-Sadiya Bridge is also the first permanent road connection between the two states.

While it isn’t the longest bridge in the world, it is currently the longest bridge over water in India. It is 42 feet wide, and only vehicles can pass through.

Construction for the bridge began in November 2011 and ended on March 2017. On May 26, 2017, the bridge finally opened for public use.

Vasco da Gama Bridge

Total length: 7.67 miles

The Vasco da Gama Bridge is a cable-stayed bridge that spans the Tagus River in Portugal. The bridge helps lessen the traffic along the 25 de Abril Bridge by opening another route to travel between northern and southern Portugal.

The bridge’s name honors Vasco da Gama, a Portuguese explorer. Vasco da Gama was the first to discover how to travel from Europe to India through a sea route.

Motorists who wish to cross the bridge must pay a toll fee when traveling to Lisbon. However, those who are traveling southbound can freely pass the bridge with no necessary toll fees.

Rio-Niterói Bridge

Total length: 8.26 miles

You can find the Rio-Niterói Bridge in Brazil. It connects Rio de Janeiro and Niteroi City by crossing Guanabara Bay. It might not be the longest bridge in the world, but it is the second longest bridge in Latin America.

Also known as the “President Costa e Silva Bridge”, the bridge started its construction in 1969. It finally opened to the public on March 4, 1974.

The Rio-Niteroi Bridge is 89 feet wide, and it carries the traffic of 150,000 vehicles every day. However, motorists have to pay a toll fee to pass through. The bridge has a central span that is 236 feet high. This way, ships can easily pass under the bridge.

6th October Bridge

Total length: 12.7 miles

One of the longest bridges in the world is the 6th October Bridge. You can find the 6th October Bridge in Cairo, Egypt, where it crosses the Nile River twice. It connects Gezira Island and Downtown Cairo to the Cairo International Airport.

The name, “6th October Bridge”, references the date when the Yom Kippur War began. On October 6, 1973, the Egyptian military executed Operation Badr, where soldiers crossed the Suez Canal.

Locals also call the bridge the “Spinal Cord of Cairo”. Because of its location, the elevated highway is Cairo’s major route for East-West travel. Around half a million Cairenes use the highway every day. This also means the bridge often has congested traffic. A single trip across the bridge will probably take around 45 minutes.

Incheon Bridge

Total length: 13.28 miles

At 13.28 miles long, Incheon Bridge is almost the longest bridge in the world. It is 110 feet wide with six lanes and has a height of 756 feet.

Incheon Bridge is South Korea’s longest spanning cable-stayed bridge. It connects Yeongjong Island and Incheon. The bridge also provides a direct route from Songdo to Incheon International Airport and vice versa.

Construction of the Incheon Bridge began in 2005 and ended four years later in 2009. The 2008 South Korean film, Rough Cut, features the bridge as the backdrop of one scene.

Hangzhou Bay Bridge

Total length: 22.2 miles

The Hangzhou Bay Bridge is a highway bridge in China. As its name suggests, it crosses Hangzhou Bay to connect the municipalities of Jiaxing and Ningbo. This bridge reduces travel time by two whole hours.

Construction of the bridge began in 2003, and it finished on June 14, 2007. However, it didn’t open to the public until May 1, 2008, as testing and evaluation took one year to complete.

The “Land between the Sea and the Sky” sits in the middle of the bridge. It is a service center with several shops, restaurants, and other tourist attractions. It even has a hotel and lookout tower where people can view the ocean.

Manchac Swamp Bridge

Total length: 22.80 miles

The Manchac Swamp Bridge is the longest bridge in the world that is toll-free. It is also the longest bridge on the Interstate Highway System.

The Manchac Swamp Bridge was an expensive project. Over 600 experts planned and designed the bridge for 10 years. During construction, most of the bridge’s parts were built on land, and they all had to be transported to the bridge through ships. The bridge cost over $161 million.

There are several superstitions about the Manchac Swamp. One is a Cajun folklore about a man with the head of a dog called Rougarou. They say the Rougarou prowl the waters of Louisiana in search of naughty children.

Line 1 (Wuhan Metro)

Total length: 23.61 miles

The tenth longest bridge in the world is the Wuhan Metro’s Line 1. It is also the longest continuous metro viaduct ever.

Line 1 has a total of 176 seats, but it can carry over 1,200 passengers per trip. With four train cars, the bridge serves over 400,000 riders on its train per day.

Wuhan Metro has 11 lines, and as its name suggests, Line 1 was the first. It first opened on July 28, 2004. In the following years, the city continued to expand the metro until more stations opened. By 2017, Line 1 had 32 stations.

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

Total length: 23.86 miles

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is a strong candidate for the longest bridge in the world. Also simply called “the Causeway”, it is found in southeastern Louisiana. It connects the northern and southern suburbs of New Orleans.

Every day, the bridge handles the traffic of 43,000 vehicles. At first, the bridge operated as a toll bridge in both directions. However, in 1999, motorists heading northbound no longer had to pay a toll. Only those traveling southbound had to pay.

In 2005, the Causeway suffered damages from Hurricane Katrina. The bridge lost 17 spans, but its structural integrity remained. After careful evaluation, the bridge reopened to the public once again on September 19, 2005.

Beijing Grand Bridge

Total length: 29.92 miles

With a length of almost 30 miles, the Beijing Grand Bridge is close to being the longest bridge in the world. The Beijing Grand Bridge is a railway viaduct. A railway viaduct refers to a type of bridge with arches or columns elevating a railway or road.

Construction for the Beijing Grand Bridge began in 2010. It ended a year after in 2011. Since then, it has operated as a railway on the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway (HSR). It connects southern Beijing with the Langfang Prefecture.

Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge

Total length: 34 miles

The Hong Kong-Zhuhai Macau Bridge (HZMB) isn’t just the seventh longest bridge in the world, it is also the world’s longest sea-crossing bridge and the longest open-sea fixed link ever.

The HZMB crosses two channels: the Lingding Channel and the Jiuzhou Channel. In doing so, it connects the three major Chinese cities of Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai. The HZMB has a complex system of four artificial islands, three cable-stayed bridges, and an undersea tunnel.

Given its complex system, it’s no surprise the HZMB took nine years to finish. Construction for the bridge began in 2009 and ended in 2018. A few months after its completion, it opened to the public.

Bang Na Expressway

Total length: 34 miles

The Bang Na Expressway, or the “Burapha Withi Expressway”, is an elevated highway and toll road in Thailand. The Bang Na Expressway stands above route 34 of the National Highway. It connects the districts of Bang Na and Bang Pakong with six lanes.

The Bang Na Expressway had several designers. The Expressway and Rapid Transit Authority of Thailand first proposed the idea for the bridge. Engineers from France, the United States, Germany, and Thailand all collaborated to complete the bridge.

After its construction finished in 2000, the Bang Na Expressway was the longest bridge in the world. However, it only held this title until 2008.

The Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge

Total length: 49.54 miles

You’ll find the fifth longest bridge in the world in China. The Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge crosses several rivers, including the Wei River, the Ling River, and the Xi River. As part of the Zhengzhou-X’ian High-Speed Railway, it connects the cities of Zhengzhou and X’ian.

Construction for the bridge ended in 2008 and it became the longest bridge in the world. However, this title was short-lived as longer bridges opened in 2010. Furthermore, the railway did not open to the public immediately. It only began operating on February 6, 2010.

Cangde Grand Bridge

Total length: 65.75 miles

At 65.75 miles, the Cangde Grand Bridge is the fourth longest bridge in the world. It is part of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway.

During its planning, the designers of the bridge wanted it to withstand strong earthquakes. Construction of the bridge ended in 2010, and you can clearly see how thorough the railway’s support is. It has over 3,000 piers that support its length well.

Tianjin Grand Bridge

Total length: 70.65 miles

The Tianjin Grand Bridge is the third longest bridge in the world. It is yet another railway viaduct in China and a part of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway.

The Tianjin Grand Bridge crosses the city of Tianjin, in between the cities of Langfang and Qingxian. Designers of the bridge considered the design of an elevated railway to lessen the costs of money and land. An elevated bridge also meant a shorter construction period.

After careful planning, construction for the bridge began in 2006 and ended in 2010. On June 30, 2011, it opened to the public.

Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct

Total length: 97.75 miles

The second longest bridge in the world is the Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct. The Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct is part of the Taiwan High-Speed Rail network.

With 10,000 workers and an $8.5 billion budget, construction for the bridge ended in 2007. In the same year, the railway also opened to the public. It carries a train across several stations, including Changhua, Yunlin, and Tainan. The railway begins at Baguashan, Changhua County, and ends at Zuoying, Kaohsiung.

Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge

Total length: 102.4 miles

The longest bridge in the world is the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge. The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is another railway viaduct in China. It is part of the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway.

Construction for the bridge began in 2006 and ended in 2010. The bridge opened to the public on June 30, 2011. It has an impressive height of 100 feet and a width of 260 feet. Part of the bridge is also above water. For 5.6 miles, the bridge crosses Yangcheng Lake.

The impressive design of the bridge is all thanks to the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC). The CRBC is a Chinese government-funded organization. It is in charge of major highways, railways, and other civil engineering projects in China.

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