World's Most Amazing Bridges
From art deco concrete constructions to ultra modern futuristic designs, some of the bridges are examples of the world's finest architecture. Whether crossing the bays, spanning the gorges, or winding through the cities, the bridges are also examples of the world's most demanding engineering challenges.See some of the most amazing bridges on the globe.
1. The Brooklyn Bridge
New York. USA. An iconic part of the New York skyline, the Brooklyn Bridge is one of the oldest suspension bridges in the USA. Designed to span the East River, the bridge was completed in 1883 and until 1903 it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.
2. The Millau Viaduct
South of France Only 37 m (121 ft) shorter than the Empire State Building in New York, the Millau Viaduct is the tallest bridge in the world. 343.0 m (1,125 ft) tall and 2,460 m (8,071 ft) long, this giant construction, spanning the valley of the river Tarn, is one of the most impressive road-bridges on the globe. It was opened to traffic in December 2004.
3. The Helix Bridge
Singapore The Helix Bridge is an ultra modern double-helix structure that emerged in Singapore in April 2010. Besides its function of linking Marina Centre with Marina Bay in the city, the bridge also serves as a gallery and an observation platform, providing amazing views of Singapore.
4. The Millenium Bridge
London. UK. Among London's numerous bridges, the Millennium Footbridge a.k.a. the Wobbly Bridge, is the first pedestrian-only bridge crossing the River Thames. Linking the City of London, near St. Paul's' Cathedral and the Tate Modern Gallery, the bridge is one of the most pleasant walking paths in the city. It was opened in 2000, but due to some unexpected lateral vibration it was closed after two days of its opening and successfully reopened in 2002.
5. The Rainbow Bridge
Tokyo. Japan. The Rainbow Bridge linking Tokyo with Odaiba, the city's waterfront development, is one of the most romantic and beautiful landmarks of the metropolis. Completed in 1993, the bridge is almost 800 m long and 126 m high and its towers are designed to harmonize with the skyline of Tokyo. At night, the bridge glitters in different colors, using solar energy accumulated during the day.
6. The Navajo Bridge
Arizona. USA. For almost 600 miles (970 km), the Navajo Bridge is the only roadway crossing of the Colorado River and the Grand Canyon apart from the Glen Canyon Bridge. The original bridge was completed in 1929. However, due to the heavy traffic, the local authorities decided to construct a new steel arch bridge that was opened in 1995.
7.The Coronado Bridge
San Diego. USA. One of the most amazing bridges in California, the San Diego Coronado Bridge is a 3.4 km (2.1 mi) long part of State Route 75. Reaching a maximum height of 200 feet (61m), the span is tall enough to allow the U.S. Navy ships to pass underneath it. The construction of the bridge was commenced in 1967 and lasted two years.
8. The Tower Bridge
London. UK. The icon of London, the Tower Bridge is an amazing bascule and suspension bridge over the River Thames. Completed at the end of the 19th century, the bridge still serves as a busy and vital crossing of the river. 40,000 people cross the bridge every day and its bascules rise around 1,000 times a year.
9. The Octavio Frias de Oliveira Bridge
São Paulo. Brazil. Within two years since its opening in 2008, the Octavio bridge, has become one of the most recognizable and attractive landmarks of the city of São Paulo. The unusual form of the bridge deck of an "X" makes the construction appear as a very modern and sophisticated development. The Octavio is the only bridge in the world where two curved tracks are supported by a single mast.
10. The Pennybacker Bridge
Austin. USA. The Pennybacker Bridge is a part of Loop 360 highway, considered one of the most scenic routes in Texas, winding through the hills of West Austin. The beautiful construction, more commonly known as the "360 Bridge", has a uniform weathered rust finish that blends in with the surrounding hills and the lake. The bridge was officially opened for traffic in 1982.
11. The Széchenyi Chain Bridge
Budapest. Hungary. Linking Buda, the western part of the Hungarian capital, with Pest, the eastern part of the city, the Széchenyi Chain Bridge on the Danube River was the first permanent bridge across the river, opened in 1849. At the time of its construction, the bridge was considered a wonder of the world and a symbol of advancement. Today, it still impresses with its art deco design and grandeur.
12. Hangzhou Bay Bridge
Hangzhou Bay. China.Connecting the municipalities of Jiaxing and Ningbo in China, the Hangzhou Bay Bridge, of 22 miles (35.6 km), is the longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world. This impressively long highway bridge was opened in May 2008. Thanks to the bridge's opening, the highway travel distance between Shanghai and Ningbo was reduced from 4 to 2.5 hours.
13. The Golden Gate Bridge
San Francisco. USA.A symbol of San Francisco and the USA, the Golden Gate Bridge is truly a beautiful piece of architecture. No wonder it was ranked fifth on the List of America's Favorite Architecture by the American Institute of Architects. Apparently, the striking orange color was originally used as a sealant, but the locals persuaded Irving Morrow, the designer of the bridge, to keep it vibrant orange instead of going grey or silver.
14. The Henderson Waves Bridge
SingaporeRunning 36 meters above Henderson Road in Singapore, the Henderson Waves is the highest pedestrian-only bridge in the city, of a length of 274 meters (899 ft). It comes as no surprise that the absolutely extraordinary form of the wave-shape steel ribs that snake through the metropolis was awarded Design of the Year for the President's Design Award at the Singapore Design Week 2009.
15. Forth Railway Bridge
Scotland The Forth Railway Bridge, connecting Fife council area with Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland, is the world's longest cantilever bridge for rail transport of a length of 2.5 km. (1.5 mile). Opened in 1890, it was the first bridge in Britain built entirely of steel and today it is still regarded as an engineering marvel.
16.Magdeburg Water Bridge (Germany): Europe's Largest Water Bridge The Magdeburg Water Bridge connects the former East and West Germany over the Elbe River, and it was made as part of the unification project. 1 km long, the 500 million euros water bridge enables river barges to avoid a lengthy and sometimes unreliable passage along the Elbe. Shipping used to come to a halt on the stretch if the river’s water mark felt to unacceptably low levels.
17.Rolling Bridge (UK): The Bridge that Curls Up on Itself Designed by Heatherwick Studio, the award-winning Rolling Bridge is located Paddington Basin, London. Rather than a conventional opening bridge mechanism, consisting of a single rigid element that lifts to let boats pass, the Rolling Bridge gets out of the way by curling up until its two ends touch. While in its horizontal position, the bridge is a normal, inconspicuous steel and timber footbridge; fully open, it forms a circle on one bank of the water that bears little resemblance to its former self.
Twelve metres long, the bridge is made in eight steel and timber sections, and is made to curl by hydraulic rams set into the handrail between each section.
18.Wind and Rain Bridge (China): Dong people’s bridge The Wind and Rain Bridge is the symbolized architecture of the Dong minority people. The wind and rain bridge in Diping is the largest of its kind in Guizhou Province, where China’s biggest Dong community lives. The bridge is over 50 meters long and it was first built in 1894 during the Qing Dynasty over 100 years ago. However, the original structure was destroyed in a big fire in 1959 and the one visitors see today was a recreation finished in 1964
19.Banpo Bridge (South Korea): The Fountain BridgeOn September 9, 2008, the Banpo Bridge in Seoul (South Korea) got a major facelift: a 10,000-nozzle fountain that runs all the way on both sides. Immediately after being installed, the bridge turned into a major tourist attraction, as the bridge pumps out 190 tons of water per minute using the water from the river below.
20.Ponte Vecchio (Florence, Italy) A Medieval bridge over the Arno River, the Ponte Vecchio is mainly known for its shops of jewelers, art dealers and souvenir sellers and for being Europe's oldest wholly-stone, closed-spandrel segmental arch bridge -- whatever that means. Regardless, the Ponte Vecchio Brige is gorgeous and has a rich history dating back to the time of the Romans.
Interesting factoid: During World War II the bridge was not destroyed by the Nazis -- unlike most other bridges in Europe -- under an express order from Adolf Hitler.
