The World’s Longest and Largest Bridges by Category

Here at Alan’s Factory Outlet, we love to learn about (and from) the magnificent marvels of modern engineering across the world, especially if steel is involved. We created a visual guide to the longest bridges in the world to honor the ever-expanding capacity of mankind to use math, science, and creativity to create a more efficient and connected world. We explored the world’s longest bridges overall as well as the longest of specific bridge types to diversify the cool information we get to present to you. Check it out!

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World’s Longest and Largest Bridges by Category

What Is the Longest Bridge in the World?

The world’s longest bridge and the longest bridge in Asia is the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge, located in China. How long is the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge? This viaduct-style bridge spans a total length of 102.4 miles or 164.8 kilometers. A viaduct is a specific type of bridge that is constructed from a series of arches, columns, or piers. It is ideal for connecting two points of similar elevation, creating a direct overpass across wide valleys, roads, rivers, or other low-lying terrain. In this case, Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge runs parallel to the Yangtze River and spans a 5.6-mile section of open water across the Yangcheng Lake in Suzhou.

Opened in 2011, the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is located along the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway, going through the cities of Danyang, Changzhou, Wuxi, and Suzhou and ending in Kunshan. The total Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge cost was approximately $8.5 billion; construction took four years to complete with 10,000 workers. That means that this impressive bridge cost around $51 million per mile to build!

What Is the Longest Bridge in the World Made Of?

Steel and concrete are the primary construction materials for the largest bridge on Earth. Approximately 450,000 tons of steel and 2,000 concrete pillars were used to construct just the segment that spans the open waters of Yangcheng Lake! Sturdiness and resilience were key goals during the development of this bridge — it is intended to be able to withstand natural disasters such as typhoons and powerful earthquakes as well as direct impact from naval vessels weighting up to 300,000 tons.

What Is the Longest Bridge in the United States?

The longest bridge in America and the longest bridge over water is the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, which crosses Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana. The longest bridge in the U.S. spans 23.83 miles, uniting New Orleans and Mandeville. How long does it take to cross the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway? On a good day, a car can cross the bridge in around 25 minutes; it’s marvelous and a tad intimidating to imagine driving across water for so long!

How Long Did it Take to Build the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway?

According to the American Society of Civil Engineers, construction of the longest over-water bridge in the world took only 14 months. Completed in 1956, it marked the first time that assembly-line, mass-production methods were used in the construction of a bridge.

Now, let’s hop across the border to America’s northern neighbor. The longest bridge in Canada is the Confederation Bridge, which spans 8 miles or 12.9 kilometers. This box-girder bridge links the province of Prince Edward Island with the province of New Brunswick across the Abegweit Passage.

South of the border, the longest bridge in South America is the Rio-Niterói Bridge, also known as the President Costa e Silva Bridge. This box-girder bridge stretches 8.26 miles (or 13.29 kilometers) to connect the Brazilian cities of Rio de Janeiro and Niterói.

What Is the Longest Bridge in Europe?

Europe’s longest bridge is the Crimean Bridge, which spans 11.2 miles or 18.1 kilometers over the Kerch Strait between the Taman Peninsula of Krasnodar Krai in mainland Russia and the Kerch Peninsula of Crimea. When it opened in 2019, it became the longest bridge in Russia and the longest bridge in Europe. The bridge earned its name through an online vote in December 2017, with “Kerch Bridge” and “Reunification Bridge” being runner-up choices.

The longest bridge in the European Union is the Vasco de Gama Bridge, a cable-stayed and viaduct bridge that measures more than 10 miles (or 17 kilometers) and connects the northern and southern regions of Portugal.

Here is a quick rundown of the eight main bridge types and the longest of each kind:

Longest Arch Bridge: Pingnan Third Bridge (China) — 3,395 feet
Longest Beam Bridge: Lake Ponchartrain Causeway (United States) — 23.83 miles
Longest Cable-Stayed Bridge: Russky Bridge (Russia) — 1.93 miles
Longest Cantilever Bridge: Quebec Bridge (Canada) — 3,238 feet
Longest Suspension Bridge: 1915 Çanakkale Bridge (Turkey) — 2.87 miles
Longest Truss Bridge: Ikitsuki Bridge (Japan) — 1,300 feet
Longest Tied Arch Bridge: Caiyuanba Bridge (China) — 2,600 feet
Longest Wooden Bridge: Horai Bridge (Japan) — 2,944 feet
Longest Covered Bridge: Hartland Covered Bridge (Canada) — 1,282 feet

Here is a full transcription of this infographic to improve accessibility, just like bridges do! We also included attributions for all images used below.