Have you seen any of the longest bridges in the United States yet? If you haven’t, let us walk you through some of the long bridges in America.
Long bridges are usually constructed to connect two places together where there is naturally no road. For example, cars can’t move on water to cross to its edge, but with the construction of water bridges, vehicles can easily travel over the water to reach their destinations.
The United States is known for its long bridges which are mostly funded by the government. According to statistical research, the United States is home to more than 600,000 bridges. These feats of engineering connect towns and are essential for commercial and passenger traffic.
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The following is a list of 10 of the longest bridges in the US, which goes from coast to coast.
- Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
- Manchac Swamp Bridge
- Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
- Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
- I-10 Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge
- Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge
- Jubilee Parkway
- San Mateo–Hayward Bridge
- Seven Mile Bridge
- General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge
Top 10 Longest Bridges in the United States
On this list, more than one of these longest bridges are located in Louisiana as bridges are important elements of the state’s transportation system. See the ten US longest bridges in a descending order of arrangement below.
10. General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge
The General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge is one of the longest bridges in the US, having a total length of 6.08 miles (10 km). It was named after Walter K. Wilson, a Chief of Engineers and long-term resident of Mobile.
Another common name for the General W.K. Wilson Bridge is the “Dolly Parton Bridge.” It is made up of two parallel tied-through arches of weathering steel and concrete beam viaducts, forming a continuous bridge.
The bridge spans the Mobile-Tensaw River Delta northeast of Mobile, Alabama, with four lanes of Interstate 65. General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge was completed and opened to the public in 1978.
9. Seven Mile Bridge
Florida Keys, Florida is home to the Seven Mile Bridge. With a total bridge length of 6.7 miles; the Seven Mile Bridge makes it to the list of the top 10 longest bridges in the US.
The Seven Mile Bridge consists of two bridges; one which is the old bridge is opened to pedestrians and cyclists, and the other which is the modern bridge, is used by vehicles only.
8. San Mateo–Hayward Bridge
Plainly known as the San Mateo Bridge, it is a bridge found in California, United States of America. Along the State Route 92, the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is identified to be a bridge crossing the San Francisco Bay, which links the San Francisco Peninsula with the East Bay.
The San Mateo-Hayward bridge was firstly opened to the public’s use in 1967 but was later extended in 2003.
Having a bridge length of 7.0 miles (11.3 km), the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is the longest bridge in California and is recognized among the longest structures in the United States.
According to Mitc.caa.gov, the original stricture cost of the San Mateo-Hayward Bridge is estimated around $70 million, while the extension cost is estimated at $200 million.
It is not toll-free bridge, for an auto fee of about $7 is usually collected to cross San Mateo-Hayward Bridge.
7. Jubilee Parkway
The seventh longest bridge in the US is the Jubilee Parkway which is found in Mobile, Alabama. The Jubilee Parkway consists of two parallel concrete viaduct bridges which carries the Interstate 10 across the Mobile Bay in Alabama.
The twin bridges of the Jubilee Parkway have two lanes each, making a total of four lanes. Also, known as the Bayway locally, the Jubilee Parkway was opened to the public in 1978.
With a total bridge length of 7.5 miles, the Jubilee Parkway is regarded as one of the longest bridges in the world.
6. Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge
Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge is also one of the longest bridges in USA, having a bridge length of 8.2 miles. It is a concrete trestle toll bridge and was opened in Lafourche Parish, Louisiana in 2009.
The Gateway to the Gulf Expressway is another popular name for Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge. This bridge is a toll bridge, and a fee is required upon which its rate depends on the axle of vehicles.
5. I-10 Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge
The I-10 Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge is a twin concrete trestle bridge with a total length of 11 miles (17.7km). It is the fifth longest bridge in America and is found in the U.S. state of Louisiana.
It was originally opened in 1972 as part of Louisiana Interstate 10, and it connects New Orleans and Baton Rouge.
4. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel (CBBT) is also one of the longest bridges in the US with a total length of 17.6 miles. It is a bridge-tunnel in Virginia, USA which crosses Chesapeake between Hampton and Delmarva Roads.
Officially known as Lucious J. Kellam Jr. Bridge-Tunnel, its northbound was opened in 1964, and the southbound of the bridge-tunnel was opened in 1999.
Although about 3.5 million vehicles make use of the bridge every year according to Virginiaplaces, the engineering marvel of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel has also made it a famous tourist attraction in USA.
3. Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is a pair of parallel bridges which takes the third position on this list of the US’s longest bridges. It is found in Louisiana between Lafayette and Baton Rouge, carrying the Interstate 10 over the Atchafalaya Basin.
Another notable name for the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is the Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge. The construction of the bridge began in 1971 and was opened in 1973, having a total length of 18.2 miles (29 km).
The expected daily traffic on Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is over 30,000. Don’t forget to watch out for the speed cameras while driving across this bridge.
2. Manchac Swamp Bridge
Manchac Swamp Bridge is another twin concrete trestle bridge in Louisiana, USA. It is the second longest bridge in the United States after Causeway with a measurement of 22.80 miles (36.69km).
Also called I-55 Manchac Swamp Crossing, it was opened in 1979, carrying the Interstate 55 and the National Highway 51.
The piles of the bridge are as deep as 250 ft to ensure a stable structure and its span was reported to cost $7 million per mile towards its completion.
Most people take the Manchac Swamp Bridge as a toll-free bridge despite being USA’s third largest bridge.
1. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest bridge in the United States of America. It is identified to have two parallel bridges which are supported by about 9,500 concretes.
Often known as the Causeway, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is 23.8 miles long and it is found in Louisiana, USA. The causeway consists of two terminals; one is located in Metairie, Louisiana in the South, and the other is found in Mandeville, Louisiana in the North.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway was constructed in 1956 and the total construction cost of its first span was $30 million, while the second span which occurred in 1969 was at a cost of $29 million.
The expected daily traffic on the Causeway is about 43,000, and a toll fee of $5 is required to journey across the bridge. Although Lake Pontchartrain ranks first as the longest bridge in USA, it is also the longest continuous over water bridge on earth.
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Conclusion
There you have above the top 10 longest bridges in the world in 2024. Some of these bridges are known to attract tourists because of their beautiful designs, lengths, and elevations.
Each one of these US bridges is a demonstration of the technical expertise and inventiveness of construction workers and engineers in the United States. Not only do these bridges serve as vital linkages in the transportation network, but they also provide spectacular views and are famous destinations for tourist from around the world.
What do you think of this list of the world’s longest bridges. Kindly let us know in the comment box.
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