The world’s longest bridges are marvels of engineering, stretching across vast rivers, deep valleys, and wide bays to connect distant lands. This list of the top ten longest bridges in the world showcases incredible structures that redefine human achievement.From the iconic Danyang Kunshan Grand Bridge in China, the longest bridge globally, to other massive spans like the Tianjin Grand Bridge and the Bang Na Expressway, these bridges highlight innovation and scale. Exploring the longest bridges offers a glimpse into their lengths, locations, and purposes, whether they support high speed rail, bustling highways, or critical trade routes. Discover which countries boast these architectural giants, including China, Thailand, and Portugal, and learn fascinating facts about their construction. Whether you’re a travel enthusiast, an engineering buff, or simply curious, the top ten longest bridges in the world promise to inspire awe with their record breaking designs and breathtaking views. Dive into this guide to uncover the longest bridges that shape our planet’s infrastructure.

Top Ten Longest Bridges In The World

10. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, United States

Name and Location: Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, located in Louisiana, USA, connects Metairie to Mandeville across Lake Pontchartrain.Length and Type: Spans 38,400 m (38.4 km or 23.9 miles), a causeway (continuous bridge over water).Construction Details: Comprising two parallel spans, the first opened in 1956, the second in 1969, supported by over 9,000 concrete pilings, costing approximately $46 million for the first span.Significance: Recognized by Guinness as the longest continuous bridge over water, it’s vital for commuters, reducing travel time across the lake. It has withstood hurricanes, including Katrina in 2005 and Ida in 2021, showcasing resilience.

9. Metro Manila Skyway System, Philippines

Name and Location: Metro Manila Skyway System, spans Metro Manila, connecting cities like Caloocan and Muntinlupa, Philippines.Length and Type: Total length is 39,200 m (39.2 km or 24.4 miles), classified as an elevated highway (viaduct).Construction Details: Construction began in 1995, with Stage 1 completed in 1999 and Stage 2 in 2005, costing approximately PHP 100 billion (around $2 billion USD). Stage 3 is ongoing or recently completed.Significance: As the first fully grade-separated highway in the Philippines, it’s one of the longest elevated highways globally, part of the Asian Highway Network (AH26). It connects the North and South Luzon Expressways (NLEX and SLEX), providing access to Ninoy Aquino International Airport, significantly easing traffic congestion in Metro Manila.

8. Beijing Grand Bridge, China

Name and Location: Beijing Grand Bridge, a railway viaduct on the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, located in Beijing, China.Length and Type: Total length is 48,200 m (48.2 km or 29.9 miles), a railway viaduct.Construction Details: Completed in 2010 and opened in 2011, specific cost details are less documented but part of the larger high-speed rail project.Significance: One of the longest bridges globally, it’s crucial for the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, facilitating high-speed train travel and demonstrating China’s infrastructure capabilities.

7. Bang Na Expressway, Thailand

Name and Location: Officially Burapha Withi Expressway, it runs through Bangkok, Thailand, connecting Bang Na to Bang Phli to Bang Pakong.Length and Type: Spans 54,000 m (54 km or 33.5 miles), an elevated highway (viaduct).Construction Details: Completed in 2000, construction started in 1995, costing over $1 billion USD.Significance: Once considered the longest bridge in the world, it helps alleviate traffic congestion in Bangkok, a city known for severe traffic issues, and is a toll road owned by the Expressway Authority of Thailand (EXAT).

6. Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge, China

Name and Location: Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge, part of the Zhengzhou–Xi’an High-Speed Railway, spans Shaanxi and Henan Provinces, China, connecting Weinan to Xi’an and Zhengzhou.Length and Type: Total length is 79,732 m (79.7 km or 49.543 miles), a railway viaduct.Construction Details: Completed in 2008, opened in 2010, with at least 10,000 workers involved, using 2,300,000 cubic meters of concrete and 45,000 tons of steel.Significance: Once the longest bridge in the world, now sixth longest, it crosses the Wei River twice and several other rivers, highways, and railways, enhancing high-speed rail connectivity in central China.

5. Cangde Grand Bridge, China

Name and Location: Cangde Grand Bridge, part of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, located in Hebei and Shandong Provinces, China.

Length and Type: Spans 105,900 m (105.9 km or 65.8 miles), a railway viaduct, supported by 3,092 piers.Construction Details: Completed in 2010, opened in 2011, designed with earthquake resistance in mind.Significance: Fifth longest bridge globally, essential for high-speed rail, designed to withstand seismic activity, facilitating efficient travel between major Chinese cities.

4. Tianjin Grand Bridge, China

Name and Location: Tianjin Grand Bridge, also known as Langfang Qingxian viaduct, runs between Langfang and Qingxian near Tianjin, China, part of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway.Length and Type: Total length is 113,700 m (113.7 km or 70.6 miles), a railway viaduct, consisting of 32 m long box girders weighing 860 tons each.Construction Details: Construction started in 2008, completed in 2010, opened in 2011.Significance: One of the longest bridges in the world, vital for high-speed rail, designed to save land area compared to embankments, enhancing connectivity between northern and eastern China.

3. Kita–Yaita Viaduct, Japan

Name and Location: Kita–Yaita Viaduct, connects Kita City to Yaita City in Tochigi Prefecture, Japan, part of the Tohoku Shinkansen line.Length and Type: Spans 114,424 m (114.4 km or 71.1 miles), a railway viaduct.Construction Details: Completed in 1982, specific cost details are less documented but part of Japan’s extensive Shinkansen network.Significance: Third longest bridge globally when built, part of Japan’s high-speed rail network, connecting Tokyo with Aomori, enhancing regional economic development.

2. Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct, Taiwan

Name and Location: Changhua–Kaohsiung Viaduct, part of the Taiwan High Speed Rail network, runs from Changhua County to Kaohsiung City, Taiwan.Length and Type: Total length is 157,317 m (157.3 km or 97.75 miles), a railway viaduct.Construction Details: Completed in 2007, costing approximately TWD 250 billion (around $8.3 billion USD), designed for earthquake resistance.Significance: Second longest bridge in the world, crucial for Taiwan’s high-speed rail, built to withstand seismic activity due to the region’s tectonic setting, carrying over 200 million passengers by December 2012.

1. Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, China

Name and Location: Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge, part of the Beijing–Shanghai High-Speed Railway, spans from Danyang to Kunshan in Jiangsu Province, China.Length and Type: Spans 164,800 m (164.8 km or 102.4 miles), a railway viaduct, with a 9 km section over open water across Yangcheng Lake.Construction Details: Construction started in 2006, completed in 2010, opened in 2011, costing approximately $8.5 billion USD, involving 10,000 workers.Significance: Longest bridge in the world, crosses diverse terrains in the Yangtze River Delta, designed to withstand typhoons, magnitude 8 earthquakes, and impacts from large naval vessels, a testament to China’s engineering prowess.