13. Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, USA
Located in: Charleston, South Carolina
Established: 2005
Cost: $6 million*
The Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, named after a businessman from South Carolina, connects Charleston, SC with Mount Pleasant. The bridge is the third-longest cable stayed bridge in the Western Hemisphere, and it was built via the design-build method. This method usually cuts costs, as a single entity (a designer and builder) completes the project.
Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge, USA ©Felix Mizioznikov / Shutterstock
The designer-builder behind the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge was Parsons Brinckerhoff, a major Emcor and Bechtel competitor. The Bridge spans 13,200 feet (2.5 miles) and has eight twelve-foot lanes. The bridge clears the Cooper River by 186 feet. At its highest point, the bridge is 575 feet tall.
Every year, the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge is home to the USA Track & Field 6.2-mile Cooper River Bridge Run. It takes place on the first weekend of each April, and it is a huge event, attracting up to 50,000 people annually. The runners’ route begins in Mt. Pleasant and ends in Marion Square in downtown Charleston.
14. Helix Bridge, Singapore
Located in: Downtown Core, Singapore
Established: 2010
Cost: $66.32 million*
The Helix Bridge (officially named “The Helix”) is an amazing structure in Singapore, especially at night, when it uses blue and green lights to illuminate its signature helix structure. This pedestrian bridge links Marina Bay Centre with Marina South, and it spans 918 feet. The Helix is located next to the Benjamin Sheares Bridge. It opened at night on April 24, 2010, and audiences were floored to see it fully illuminated.
Helix Bridge, Singapore ©Zephyr_p / Pinterest
It is accompanied by the Bayfront Bridge, which is a vehicle bridge. The Helix was designed by ARUP Pte Ltd, an Australian company comparable to EPAM in America. The company designed it with a left-handed DNA design, which earned The Helix a place in 2010 in the Left-Handed Hall of Fame.
In order to give viewers shade at the four viewing platforms (located strategically to provide the best view of the Singapore skyline), the Helix has canopies made of perforated steel mesh and fritted glass. The Helix is one of the most-photographed sites in Asia because of its amazing views and lighting.
15. Langkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia
Located in: Langkawi, Malaysia
Established: 2005
Cost: $1.2 million*
The Langkawi Sky Bridge is a 410-foot-long pedestrian cable-stayed bridge. Located in Langkawi, Malaysia, it rises 2,170 feet above sea level, reaching the peak of the Pulau Langkawi in Kedah. To visit, tourists must take a Langkawi Cable Car to an inclined SkyGlide lift, which takes them from to the bridge.
Langkawi Sky Bridge, Malaysia ©The Dilly Lama / Wikimedia.org
Judging from the Disney-like photos, this extra hassle appears to be worth it, as the Langkawi Sky Bridge really does give you a chance to walk among the clouds. In 2012, LADA closed the bridge for maintenance and upgrades. It reopened in 2015. Peter Wyss is the designer behind this Malaysian tourist attraction.
SkyGlide was a helpful 2015 addition to the Langkawi Sky Bridge. The inclinator, as well as a new platform, were constructed to link the Sky Bridge with the top station. SkyGlide takes passengers down to the Bridge, and its cabin can accommodate twelve people (or, weight-wise, a little over 2,300 pounds).
16. Capilano Suspension Bridge, Canada
Located in: District of North Vancouver, British Columbia
Established: 1889
Cost: $43-$47 to cross*
The Capilano Suspension Bridge is perhaps one of the most notorious bridges on this list. This simple suspension bridge is home to 1.2 million visitors each year. The pedestrian bridge opened in 1889, and it is privately-owned (though one should still expect to pay a fee for admission). The bridge is 460 feet long and clears the Capilano River by 230 feet.
Capilano Suspension Bridge, Canada ©Songquan Deng / Shutterstock
The dense forest surrounding the Capilano gives it an eerie feeling when walking through, attracting the attention of TV shows and movies including ABC’s MacGyver and the supernatural horror series The Crow.
The original owner was George Grant Mackay, a civil engineer from Scotland who became Vancouver’s park commissioner. The bridge was originally constructed of cedar planks and hemp. Local natives were invited to place totem poles in the park to create a new, Native theme. The current owner, Nancy Stibbard, bought the Bridge in the 1980s.
17. Seri Wawasan Bridge, Malaysia
Located in: Lebuh Seri Wawasan, Malaysia
Established: 2003
Cost: $17.6 million*
The Seri Wawasan Bridge is located in Putrajaya, Malaysia. Built in 2003, the cable-stayed expanse is also known as “Bridge No. 9,” spanning 787.4 feet. The Bridge is futuristic-looking, and the forward-inclined pylon gives it the appearance of a sailing ship.
Seri Wawasan Bridge, Malaysia ©Tavarius / Shutterstock
At night, the bridge has color-changing lighting to accent the interesting, Carnival-like appearance of the Seri Wawasan. The bridge crosses Putrajaya Lake, which is an artificial man-made lake meant to provide cooling. The bridge is one of seven connecting the planned city to Core Island, which is where the city’s government buildings and residential neighborhoods are located.
In addition to having two three-lane carriageways, the bridge also has a walkway track at its center. The Seri Wawasan is far from the only bridge providing access for Putrajaya residents to the Core Island. Other similar access bridges include the Seri Saujana, Perdana, Setia, Gemilang, Bakti, and Bestai Bridges.
18. Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge, Brazil
Located in: 2002
Established: Brasilia, DF, Brazil
Cost: $56.8 million*
Construction on the Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge began in 2000 and ended in 2002. It has become a Brasilia landmark because of its distinctive silhouette. The bridge, which is named after former Brazilian president Juscelino Kubitschek, is the main figure that supports Brasilia. Alexandre Chan and Mario Vila Verde designed the bridge.
Juscelino Kubitschek Bridge, Brazil ©Nick Photoworld / Shutterstock
The bridge spans 3,900 feet, and it not only has six lanes for traffic, but it also has a pedestrian walkway. The arches of the bridge, which have become as distinctive in Brazil as the McDonald’s golden arches are in America, are made of steel and concrete. The bridge crosses Lake Paranoa, connecting the Brasilia International Airport on Paranoa’s eastern shore to Brasilia.
In terms of awards, the Juscelino is highly-decorated. Alexandre Chan won the Gustav Lindenthal Medal in 2003 at Pittsburgh’s International Bridge Conference. The Conference honored the bridge for being in “harmony” with the “environment,” as well as having “aesthetic merit” and “community participation.” That same year, the Juscelino won the ABCEM Award.
19. Golden Bridge, Vietnam
Located in: Ba Na Hills, Da Nang, Vietnam
Established: 2018
Cost: $2 billion*
“Golden” is a popular moniker for bridges, but the Golden Bridge we’re talking about is not the one in Germany or India – but rather the one in Ba Na Hills, Da Nang, Vietnam. The Golden Bridge is a pedestrian bridge spanning a mere 490 feet. It connects the cable car station to the gardens, bypassing an otherwise steep incline. Despite its comparatively short span, it cost a whopping $2 billion to construct.
Golden Bridge, Vietnam ©Hien Phung Thu / Shutterstock
The Golden Bridge is held up by two fiberglass and wire-mesh hands, which look like they are carrying the structure. The bridge’s innovative designer was TA Landscape Architecture, similar in purpose to the American company, BrightView. The Golden Bridge took a year to build, with construction beginning in 2017 and ending in 2018.
Vietnam’s Golden Bridge is not to be confused with bridges of the same title in Germany and Russia. Germany’s Golden Bridge holds the distinction of being the longest pedestrian bridge in the city of Dusseldorf. The Russian Golden Bridge was built in 2006, and it is the fourteenth-longest cable-stayed bridge in the world, crossing the Golden Horn Bay.
20. Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia
Located in: Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Established: 1932
Cost: $1.10 billion*
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is nicknamed “The Coathanger” because of its unique steel-through arch design. It carries all sorts of traffic: vehicle, bicycle, rail, and pedestrian, through the CBD to the North Shore. The Bridge, along with the Harbour and Opera House, is an iconic Sydney, Australia image.
Sydney Harbour Bridge, Australia ©Hans Wagemaker / Shutterstock
Dorman Long, a British firm, built the Sydney Harbour Bridge. The Bridge is actually a rough copy of NYC’s Hell Gate Bridge, which served as a major thoroughfare for the PRR. Though the two have a few similarities, the Sydney Harbour Bridge is quite unique, with features such as graceful flares at the ends of the arches. The Sydney Harbour Bridge spans 3,770 feet, making it the seventh-longest of its design.
In 1988, the Sydney Harbour Bridge was listed by Engineers Australia as a National Engineering Landmark. The listing was part of the organization’s Engineering Heritage Recognition Program. The Sydney Harbour Bridge was registered on the New South Wales State Heritage Register in 1999 because of its “remarkable” importance to the area.
21. Kintai Bridge, Japan
Located in: Iwakuni, Yamaguchi Prefecture, Japan
Established: 1673 (Rebuilt 1950)
Cost: $19 million*
The Kintai Bridge was first constructed in 1673, and spans the Nishiki River. It has five wooden arches, and the bridge itself is located at the base of Mount Yokoyama, atop which is Iwakuni Castle. The Kintai Bridge has become a popular tourist attraction, especially during autumn and spring.
Kintai Bridge, Japan ©leungchopan / Shutterstock
The autumn color change of the Japanese maples and the spring Cherry Blossom festival give the bridge an ethereal, Disney-movie appearance. The Japanese Government declared the Kintai a “National Treasure” in 1922, and it has conducted maintenance on the bridge every twenty years. The bridge was completely rebuilt in 1950 after Typhoon Kijia, making the current bridge only seventy years old.
The first Kintai Bridge was completed in 1673, and it was a stunning feat. For three-hundred years, the Kintai kept its original construction, which was completed without using metal nails. The builders used thick girders to clamp and bind the carefully-fitted wooden parts. This made the bridge strong at the top, yet weak underneath. The Japanese government had to change the original construction for flood protection reasons.
22. Runyang Yangtze River Bridge, China
Located in: Jiangsu, China
Established: 2005
Cost: $700 million*
The Runyang Yangtze River Bridge is a large bridge that crosses the Yangtze River. It is located in the Jiangsu Province, downstream of Nanjing. The bridge consists of two smaller bridges, both of which link Zhenjiang to Yangzhou.
Runyang Yangtze River Bridge, China ©HelloRF Zcool / Shutterstock
The South Bridge is a suspension bridge, and its main span stretches 4,888 feet. The South Bridge was completed in 2005. The North Bridge, which is the second half of the Runyang Yangtze River Bridge, is much shorter. The North Bridge measures 1,332 feet in length at its main span. The Runyang River Bridge spans 22.16 miles, and it cost $700 million to build.
Before the bridge was built, people crossed the river through round-the-clock ferry service, which cost $0.76 per day (about the equivalent of one Burger King ice cream cone per day). The Runyang has saved people time and money. It will soon get a third bridge added to the complex—one that crosses the Qiongzhou Strait.
23. Vasco da Gama Bridge, Portugal
Located in: Sacavem, Alochete, and Mojito, Portugal
Established: 1998
Cost: $1.1 billion*
The Vasco da Gama Bridge is the longest bridge in the EU, and the second-longest in Europe (following the Crimean Bridge). The Vasco da Gama spans 7.6 miles, the majority of which is comprised of viaducts and access roads. The Vasco da Gama has helped alleviate traffic congestion from Lisbon, Portugal.
Vasco da Gama Bridge, Portugal ©Till Niermann / Wikimedia.org
Armando Rito designed the Vasco da Gama. Construction took three years, beginning in 1995 and ending in 1998, just in time for the World’s Fair that year. Vasco da Gama was a Portuguese explorer. CNN broke the news in 2016 that a shipwrecked member of his 1400s fleet, Esmeralda, had been discovered by divers off the coast of Oman.
Vasco da Gama was a fitting choice for a name for this bridge. The famed explorer’s initial Indian voyage, which took place from 1497 to 1499, was the first one to link Asia and Europe through an ocean route. He connected the Indian and Atlantic Oceans, which was a milestone in world history, marking the beginning of sea-based colonization.
24. Golden Gate Bridge, USA
Located in: San Francisco and Marin County, California
Established: 1937
Cost: $2.3 billion*
Designed by renowned engineer Joseph Strauss, no list of the most expensive bridges in the world would be complete without the Golden Gate Bridge. The Golden Gate Bridge, which is one of the American Society of Civil Engineers’ Wonders of the Modern World, is a suspension bridge that connects the San Francisco Peninsula to Marin County.
Golden Gate Bridge, United States ©engel.ac / Shutterstock
Before the Golden Gate Bridge was built, people had to rely on ferry service, which began in 1920. The Golden Gate Ferry Company ended up growing from that ferry service, and it was the world’s largest ferry operation by the late 1920s. However, Marin County officials wanted to take the crossing a step further. In 1916, the bridge began to gain popular support.
The steel suspension bridge spans 1.7 miles and is 746 feet tall at its highest point. It has 220-foot clearance over the Golden Gate at high tide. 110,000 cars cross this Bridge daily. Due to its incredibly iconic status, the Golden Gate has been featured in box office hits like Zodiac, Rise of the Planet of the Apes and even Pixar’s Inside Out.
25. George Washington Bridge, USA
Located in: Manhattan, New York and Fort Lee, New Jersey
Established: 1931 (Upper Level), 1962 (Lower Level)
Cost: $1.2 billion*
Named after President George Washington, his namesake bridge is a double-decker suspension that spans the Hudson River, connecting Manhattan (in New York) with Fort Lee (in New Jersey). It is the busiest motor vehicle bridge in the world, carrying more than 103 million cars a year.
George Washington Bridge, USA ©Mihai_Andritoiu / Shutterstock
The bridge was designed by Omar Ammann, the same person who built the Lincoln Tunnel. The George Washington Bridge’s construction began in 1927 and ended in 1931, though the lower level wouldn’t be built until the 1960s. You’ll probably recognize this bridge from classic movies like the WarnerBros crime classic Goodfellas.
For years after the George Washington Bridge’s construction, it held the distinction of having the world’s longest main bridge span. The GWB’s main span measured 3,500 feet (the entire bridge is 4,760 feet long). However, the Golden Gate Bridge took that title from it when it opened in 1937. The George Washington Bridge’s clearance is 212 feet, mid-span.
26. Hussaini Hanging Bridge
Located in: Pakistan
Established: 2001
Cost: Unknown (But Probably Not a Lot)
The Hussaini Hanging Bridge has been labeled the “Most Dangerous Bridge in the World,” so, naturally, people have flocked to visit it. It has a 4.5/5-star rating on Tripadvisor. Located in Northern Pakistan, it is one of the many unstable rope bridges there. The Hussaini Hanging Bridge is long, poorly maintained, and missing a lot of planks.
Hussaini Hanging Bridge ©TripDeeDee Photo / Shutterstock
As you cross the bridge over a fast-moving river, the Bridge shakes. A previous, broken bridge hangs near it. The Bridge was originally created to connect the people living in the Northern Pakistani Mountains with the mainland. Many use the Karakoram Highway, built in 1978, but others find the rope bridges easier.
27. Henderson Waves Bridge
Located in: Telok Blangah Hill Park, Singapore
Established: 2008
Cost: $19.05 million*
The Henderson Waves Bridge is a wave-shaped pedestrian bridge that took two years to design (2004-2005) and two years to build (2005-2006). The pedestrian bridge crosses Singapore’s Telok Blangah and Mount Faber, and it measures almost 900 feet. The Bridge has seven “wave spans,” which echo the profiles of the waves’ ridges.
Henderson Waves Bridge ©vichie81 / Shutterstock
This impressive bridge is made of undulating steel ribs, and it is lit up at night, giving it an ethereal, beautiful presence. Singapore’s Urban Redevelopment Authority built the Henderson as one of three new bridges that form part of a 5.6-mile leisure destination. Urban planners constructed this leisure destination to rake in money from tourists.
28. Canopy Walk Bridge
Located in: Ghana
Established: 1992
Cost: $0.34* (Crossing Fee)
Ghana is known for its beautiful tropical forests and nature preservations. The Kakum National Park was established by local people who wanted to show off the beauty of Ghana. The Kakum Canopy Walkway is one of only three in Africa. The Canopy Walkway is not for the faint of heart.
Henderson Waves Bridge ©vichie81/Shutterstock
The Canopy Walk is 1,150 feet long, and it connects seven treetops, providing access to the forest for interested travelers. You can see plants and animals that you wouldn’t be able to see were you traveling on the ground by foot. The Walkway is more of a series of hanging bridges than one hanging bridge in total, and it all sits at 130 feet in height.
29. Infinity Bridge
Located in: Stockton-on-Tees, UK
Established: 2008
Cost: $20 million*
The Infinity Bridge was opened to the public in 2008 at a cost of $20 million. This public pedestrian and cyclist bridge is located in Stockton-on-Tees in England. The bridge is a bowstring bridge, also known as a dual tied arch bridge. Its continuous differently-sized steel arches join one asymmetric pier.
The Infinity Bridge ©MichaelWalkerUK / Shutterstock
Each arch bifurcates and forms a double rib, which makes up the interesting silhouette of the Infinity Bridge. The Bridge has a 120-year lifespan, courtesy of Expedition Engineering, which was one of 200 companies that put forth a bridge design in 2004. Balfour Beatty joined the construction, which began in 2007 and ended in 2008.
30. Mount Titlis
Located in: Switzerland
Established: 2012 |
Cost: $1.6 million*
The Mount Titlis Cliff walk is a pedestrian bridge built 9,843 feet above sea level, making it the highest-elevation suspension bridge in the entire continent of Europe. This pedestrian bridge follows along a cliff of Mount Titlis, located in the Swiss Alps in Engelberg, Switzerland.
Mount Titlis ©Siraphop Mahankasuvan / Shutterstock
The total length of the bridge is 322 feet. To get there, you have to travel to Engelberg via train. Then, walk five minutes to the cable car station, where you’ll travel via cable way and rotair to the Titlis Cliff Walk. The Cliff Walk has a 4.5/5-star rating on Tripadvisor, but, as you might have guessed, it’s not recommended for those afraid of heights.