These 14 Bridges Push The Limits Of Engineering

These 14 Bridges Push The Limits Of Engineering


May 28, 2025 | Allison Robertson

These 14 Bridges Push The Limits Of Engineering


Engineering Marvels

From sky-high spans to traffic-packed giants, these engineering marvels break records in height, length, width, and sheer power.

Get ready to cross into the extraordinary with 14 of the world’s most awe-inspiring bridges.

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

Opened in 2004, the Millau Viaduct soars over the Tarn Valley, linking Clermont-Ferrand with Béziers and Narbonne.

A favorite among tourists, it offers a breathtaking view from below—especially for those who canoe beneath its towering spans for a one-of-a-kind 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 stretches across the Tagus River, linking northern and southern Portugal. Interestingly, it’s not open to pedestrians—making it one of the few major bridges in the world you can’t cross on 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 spans 150 meters (492 feet) and is reserved exclusively for pedestrians. Designed to link the cable car station with the gardens, it offers a scenic—and much easier—route while giving visitors a breathtaking overlook of the surrounding landscape.

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

Originally built for $35 million, this iconic bridge is now set to undergo a $400 million upgrade—an ambitious project aimed at strengthening it against future 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

With a maximum gradient of 6.1%, the Eshima Ohashi Bridge stretches just over a mile, linking the cities of Matsue and Sakaiminato. Its steep, roller coaster–like incline has made it a marvel of modern engineering—and a favorite photo subject.

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

Perched 95 meters (312 feet) above a deep valley, the Sky Bridge offers a thrilling—and for some, nerve-wracking—walk high above 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 spans 540 meters (1,772 feet) across the River Nile, featuring pedestrian lanes and glass-floored walkways that offer visitors breathtaking, unforgettable views of the river below.

Glass floor bridge Arab Contractors

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