From One Side To The Other
Most of us have driven across bridges multiple times in our lives. But not bridges like these! Bridges so high, long, narrow, or even unstable that every moment is a white-knuckle anxiety-inducing trip. We're not sure we'd ever get behind the wheel over one of these bridges...would you?
Chesapeake Bay Bridge (Maryland)
Its official name is William Preston Lane, Jr Memorial Bridge—but it is best known to most folks as the Chesapeake Bay Bridge (or, as some call it, "the scariest bridge in America").
The dual-span bridge runs for over four miles and is up to 200 feet high at some points. It's also very hard to see anything when storms hit the bridge. So much so that there are private companies one can pay to drive you across the bridge—a service many nerve-racked commuters take advantage of.
Ben Schumin, Wikimedia Commons
Sidu River Bridge (China)
It might only be 4,000 feet long, but this suspension bridge in the Hubei Province of China makes up for its short length with its massive height. Rising up more than 1,500 feet above the chasm below, the Sidu River Bridge is among the tallest bridges in the world (hope you aren't afraid of heights).
Eric Sakowski, Wikimedia Commons
Seven Mile Bridge (Florida)
The name is a bit of an exaggeration—as the actual length of the bridge is only 6.765 miles. Feel better? Well, you won't during some of the crazy tropical storms that pass that way (although they usually close the bridge down during extreme weather situations).
Tinsley Advertising, Wikimedia Commons
Confederation Bridge (Canada)
The Confederation Bridge links the Canadian provinces of Prince Edward Island and New Brunswick—and spans a hefty eight miles over the Northumberland Strait (which, for about five months out of the year, is frozen over). Canadians may be polite—but we can imagine some of the words that come out of their mouths driving eight miles over ice-packed water. And did we mention there can also be extreme winds at times?
Volgograd Bridge (Russia)
In may of 2010, the winds hitting the Volgograd Bridge were so strong that it began to twist and shake and cars had to literally be airlifted into the opposite traffic lane. To be fair, they've made modifications to the bridge since then to help with those issues—but it's still scary.
Fazil Gadalov, Wikimedia Commons
Mulberry Bridge (Tennessee)
Built in 1901, the Mulberry Bridge in Tennessee is in such bad condition that it has been closed to the public. If, for some reason, one needs to cross it to access a business, they have to get permission to do so (and it will be at their own risk).
Lake Ponchartrain Causeway Bridge (Louisiana)
For many people, the way they try to alleviate their fears driving across a bridge is to keep their eyes on the land at the end of the bridge and focus on that destination. Well, you can't do that on the Lake Ponchartrain Causeway Bridge in Louisiana. At over 24 miles long, there is a point about half way along where no land is visible.
This can be so scary and nerve-racking for drivers that police have had to rescue panic-stricken folks who've just gone and stopped their cars on the roadway.
Grant L. Robertson or employee, Wikimedia Commons
Mackinac Bridge (Michigan)
Rising up about 200 feet above the Straits of Mackinac, the bridge was designed to withstand the strong winds (sometimes over 30 miles per hour) that can hit it. But that design means that the middle of the bridge can sway up to 35 feet in either direction.
The bridge is so nerve-racking that the Mackinac Bridge Authority will drive your vehicle over the bridge for you for free if you are too anxious to do it yourself.
Justin Billau, Wikimedia Commons
Deception Pass Bridge (Washington)
The two-lane bridge spans over the Puget Sound and connects Whidbey Island and Fidalgo in Washington State. This one might only be a little scary in normal conditions—but when the fog rolls in and visibility is almost zero...that's a whole other scary story.
Frank Schulenburg, Wikimedia Commons
Eshima Ohashi Bridge (Japan)
Eshima Ohashi Bridge in Japan is the third largest rigid-frame bridge in the world and is famous for its roller coaster-like rise and fall in the middle (designed to allow for ships to pass underneath).
Lakey’s Creek Bridge (Illinois)
It isn't so much the actual bridge that's scary, but rather the ghost that haunts it.
You see, back before the bridge was built, there was a frontiersman named Lakey who built a cabin near the creek that the bridge goes across. One day, Lakey’s decapitated body was found near his cabin (the deed had been done with his own ax). Ever since, people have reported seeing a headless horseman near the bridge.
Monkey Bridges (Vietnam)
These aren't drivable bridges, but we thought they were worth a mention. Monkey Bridges in Vietnam refer to bridges made of a single bamboo log and one handrail. The name comes from the monkey-like posture folks put themselves in to make it across safely.
Thuydaonguyen, Wikimedia Commons
Bach Long Bridge (Vietnam)
Okay, we had to do one more pedestrian-only bridge. The Bach Long Bridge is 2,073 feet long and 492 feet high and—here's the scary part—it has a glass bottom. "Don't look down" doesn't work with this bridge.
DangTungDuong, Wikimedia Commons
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