The 10 longest bridges in the world - 1 spans over 100 miles and cost £6bn to build
The world is full of magnificent infrastructure projects, but the ones that often leave people stunned are bridges. Some stretch for miles across water, others carry high-speed trains through cities and mountains. But working out which one is the longest isn’t as simple as it sounds. That’s because there’s no universal method for measuring them.
Some bridges are measured from entrance to exit, others from pylon to pylon or by the total length of elevated sections. To keep things consistent, the World Population Review compiled a list based on the full constructed length of each bridge. Using their ranking, here are the 10 longest bridges in the world.
10. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, USA - 38.4km (23.8 miles)
Located in Louisiana, the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway has connected the cities of Mandeville and Metairie since 1956. It spans nearly 24 miles across open water and once held the Guinness World Record for longest bridge over water.
A second span was added in 1969. Built to improve travel between the lake’s north and south shores, the bridge sits just above the surface and has become an iconic route for drivers in the region.
(Image: Getty)
9. Metro Manila Skyway System, Philippines - 39.2km (24.3 miles)
The Metro Manila Skyway is the longest elevated expressway in the Philippines. The massive structure runs above the capital's busiest roads, helping drivers avoid some of the country’s worst traffic.
Built in phases starting in the early 2000s, the Skyway now links major highways and key areas of Metro Manila. It was designed to ease congestion and improve mobility across the city, providing a quicker alternative for thousands of commuters every day.
(Image: Getty)
8. Beijing Grand Bridge, China - 48.2km (29.9 miles)
This 48km bridge is part of China’s high-speed rail route between Beijing and Shanghai. Completed in 2010 and opened in 2011, the Beijing Grand Bridge allows trains to bypass obstacles on the ground by running above roads and rivers.
It helps maintain consistent speeds and smooth travel into and out of the capital as part of one of the busiest high-speed railway lines in the world.
(Image: Getty)
7. Bang Na Expressway, Thailand - 54km (33.5 miles)
Bangkok’s Bang Na Expressway stretches 54km and is one of the longest road bridges in the world. Completed in 2000, it was designed to tackle Bangkok’s long-standing traffic problems.
Built directly above an existing highway, the elevated toll road runs from Bang Na to Chonburi and carries tens of thousands of vehicles a day.
(Image: Getty)
6. Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge, China - 79.7km (49.5 miles)
This huge viaduct runs through Shaanxi Province and forms part of the Zhengzhou–Xi’an High-Speed Railway. Completed in 2008, the Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge was built to cross a series of rivers, highways and other obstacles.
Its elevated design allows trains to move quickly and safely across the landscape, playing an important role in one of western China’s main transport routes.
(Image: Wikimedia Commons)
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