List of highest bridges explained

This list of highest bridges includes bridges with a deck height of at least . The of a bridge is the maximum vertical drop distance between the bridge deck (the road, rail or other transport bed of a bridge) and the ground or water surface beneath the bridge span.

Deck height is different from, which is a measure of the maximum vertical distance from the uppermost part of a bridge, such as the top of a bridge tower to the lowermost exposed part of the bridge, where its piers emerge from the surface of the ground or water.

Structural height and deck height

The difference between tall and high bridges can be explained in part because some of the highest bridges span the deepest part of their valley or gorge supported from above, with their ground supports built on relatively high terrain only; some of the tallest bridges have support structures on the lowest part of the valley floor.

For example, (as of 8 February 2020) the Duge Bridge is the highest bridge in the world, but only the tenth tallest. This bridge spans a deep river gorge. The bridge's two towers, built on the rims of the gorge, are tall, but due to the depth of the river gorge between the towers, the deck height of the Duge Bridge is .

The Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed bridge that is both tall (in structural height) and high (in deck height). The tallest Millau Viaduct tower is situated near the valley floor, which gives the viaduct a structural height of, and a deck height of above the valley floor. The Millau Viaduct is (as of 8 February 2020) the tallest bridge, but only the thirtieth highest bridge in the world.

Completed bridges

The ranking of the highest bridges in the world, currently open for use. Only bridges with a height of 200m (700feet) or greater are included. Bridges under construction or demolished are not included in this ranking, but see the separate section "Under construction" below.

Under construction

The list below includes the highest bridges in the world currently under construction. Only bridges with a height of 200 metres (660 ft) or greater are included.

NameHeight
(metres / feet)
Span
(metres / feet)
Expected
completion
CarriesDesignLocation
Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge
花江峡谷大桥
June 2025 Expressway [1]
2024 Expressway China
Shedexiang, Yunnan
Zhaozhuang Bridge329m (1,079feet)410m (1,350feet)2022Road
Railway
Xingyi Metro line 1
Arch
Maling River
China
Xingyi, Guizhou
[2]
Lancangjiang River Railway Bridge271m (889feet)342m (1,122feet)2022RailwayArch
Mekong
China
Baoshan, Yunnan
[3]
Dahe Bridge
六盘水大河特大桥
258m (846feet)1250m (4,100feet)2023RoadSuspension China
Liupanshui, Guizhou
[4]
Jinshajiang Railway Bridge Hutiaoxia
虎跳峡金沙江特大桥
250m (820feet)660m (2,170feet)2022RailwaySuspension
Jinsha River
China
Hutiaoxiazhen, Yunnan
[5]
Wujiang Bridge Zunyu
遵余高速乌江特大桥
248m (814feet)520m (1,710feet)2021Road
Zunyu Expy
Suspension
Wu River
China
Meitan County, Guizhou
[6]
Malinghe Bridge Three
马岭河大桥
235m (771feet)450m (1,480feet)2021Road
Railway
Xingyi Metro line 4
Suspension
Maling River
China
Xingyi, Guizhou
[7]
Yuanjiang Railway Bridge
元江大桥
223m (732feet)249m (817feet)2021RailwayTruss
Red River
China
Yuanjiang, Yunnan
[8]
Mtentu Bridge223m (732feet)260m (850feet)2022Road
N2 road
Beam
Mtentu
South Africa
Lundini, Eastern Cape
[9]
Nujiang Railway Bridge Darui
怒江特大桥
212m (696feet)490m (1,610feet)2022Railway
Dali–Ruili Railway
Arch
Salween River
China
Lamengxiang, Yunnan
[10]
Gasajiang Bridge
嘎洒江特大桥
206m (676feet)200m (700feet)2021Road
Yuxi-Lincang Expy
Beam
Red River
China
Jiasazhen, Yunnan
[11]

Timeline

The list below shows the historical progression of the highest bridge in the world.

NameRecordLocationHeight
(metres / feet)
Main
span
(metres / feet)
Year openedCarries
Duge Bridge2016– near Liupanshui in Guizhou564m (1,850feet)720m (2,360feet)2016G56
Sidu River Bridge2009–16 Yesanguanzhen496 m/1,627 ft900 m/2,952 ft2009G50
Hegigio Gorge Pipeline Bridge2005–09 Otoma, Papua New Guinea393 m/1,289 ft470 m/1,542 ft2005pipeline
Beipan River Guanxing Highway Bridge2003–05 Xingbeizhen366 m/1,200 ft388 m/1,273 ft2003highway
Liuguanghe Bridge2001–03 Liu Guangzhen297 m/975 ft240 m/787 ft2001G321
Royal Gorge Bridge1929–2001 Cañon City, Colorado291 m/955 ft286 m/938 ft1929road
1922–29 Niouc190 m/623 ft190 m/623 ft1922pipeline
Sidi M'Cid Bridge1912–22 Constantine, Algeria175 m/575 ft160 m/525 ft1912road
1839–1912 Allonzier-la-Caille147 m/482 ft183 m/600 ft1839pedestrian
Puente Nuevo1751–1839 Ronda120 m/394 ft100 m/328 ft1793road
1350–1751 Spoleto80 m/262 ft[12] 1350[13] Aqueduct
Alcántara Bridge106–1350 Alcántara48 m/157 ft[14] 29 m/95 ft106Roman bridge
Pont d'Aël3 BC – 106 Aymavilles66 m/217 ft14 m/46 ft3 BCRoman aqueduct

References

Notes and References

  1. Web site: World's highest bridge to be completed in mid-2025 in SW China . 13 March 2024.
  2. Web site: Malinghe Bridge Zhaozhuang . 10 January 2017.
  3. Web site: Lancangjiang Railway Bridge Darui . 10 January 2017.
  4. Web site: Dahe Bridge . 26 February 2017.
  5. Web site: Jinshajiang Railway Bridge Hutiaoxia . 10 January 2017.
  6. Web site: Wujiang Bridge Zunyu . 27 January 2017.
  7. Web site: Malinghe Bridge Three . 10 January 2017.
  8. Web site: Yuanjiang Railway Bridge . 10 January 2017.
  9. Web site: Mtentu Bridge . 26 February 2017.
  10. Web site: Nujiang Railway Bridge Darui . 10 January 2017.
  11. Web site: Gasajiang Bridge . 22 January 2017.
  12. Web site: Tall buildings 1896.
  13. Web site: The Tower's Bridge (Ponte delle Torri).
  14. Web site: Alcántara Bridge.