The US is known for its architectural beauty as it is a hub of many exotic monuments, stadiums, and bridges. Owing to the creative minds of renowned architects, there are many longest bridges in USA. It makes America proud of its capabilities at a global level. Oftentimes, many people ask a question, “Which is the longest bridge in the US?”
In order to answer this question, I will introduce you to many long bridges in the USA. Over the course of time, the US has seen the development of many long-length bridges. Due to this, the connectivity to various places in the US has improved manifold times. Many such bridges in US remind everyone of the unlimited human capability.
The longest bridges with creative designs don’t just add to the beauty of the US. But they also enhance the connectivity to different US places. Additionally, these bridges make America a proud nation across the globe. Enough of the introduction, now let’s discuss various bridges situated in different parts of the US.
In this post, I have enlisted the names of some of the longest bridges in USA with some details. The details include the year of opening, investment cost, and length of every bridge. By the end of this post, you will get to know which is the longest bridge in the US at present?
Longest Bridges in USA
Here is the list of the some of the longest bridges with important details about them. After reading about these bridges, you will come to know about their magnificence.
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is the longest bridge in the US. Owing to this, it is counted in the Guinness Book of World Records. Besides, it is the longest bridge over water in the US as well as the world.
To be specific, it passes over New Orleans’ Lake Pontchartrain. Popularly known as Causeway, it consists of two parallel bridges joining Mandeville with Metairie.
- Year of Opening – 1956
- Investment Cost – $46 million (valued in the year 1956)
- Length – 38.40 Km
- Carries – 4 lanes of Causeway Blvd
Manchac Swamp Bridge
Manchac Swamp Bridge is a bridge made on swamplands and one-third of I-55 passing is through swamplands. Due to this, each concrete pile had to put over 250 feet into the swamp. As a result, it costs $7 million per mile to build this bridge.
You might not know that it is a twin-tristle bridge and it opened in 1979 in the Ponchatoula city. Machac Swamp Bridge is playing a major role in helping the US people commute from one place to another with ease.
- Year of Opening – 1979
- Investment Cost – $7 million per mile
- Length – 36.70 Km
- Carries – I-55 /US 51
Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is the third largest bridge in the US. Actually, it a combination of two bridges that drive through Louisiana. The bridge carries Interstate I-10 highway and it connects Baton Rouge with Lafayette.
Apart from the above details, it is important for you to know that it opened in 1973. This bridge passes over Atchafalaya Basin which is the largest wetland in the US.
Due to Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, commuters are finding it easy to cross a long distance in a limited time. Hence, this bridge is counted amongst the top 10 longest bridges in the US.
- Year of Opening – 1973
- Investment Cost – $7 million per mile
- Length – 36.70 Km
- Carries – I-55 /US 51
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel is a combination of bridge and tunnel that has helped travelers save a lot of their time. Officially known as Lucius J. Kellam Jr. Bridge-Tunnel, it has shortened the traveling time between Norfolk and the Delaware Valley.
Before the construction of this bridge, people would travel extra 95 miles to travel between the two locations. Since its inception in 1964, it has seen a big increase in its traffic.
Its Northern part came into effect in 1964 whereas the Southend opend in 1999. The southern end of the bridge is in vicinity to Norfolk Botanical Garden, First Landing State Park, and Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum.
On the other hand, the Northern part easily connects to Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge and Kiptopeke State Park. It is the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission that supervises the operation of this bridge.
- Year of Opening – 1964
- Investment Cost – $200 million
- Length – 28.30 Km
- Carries – 4 Lanes of US 13
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
Commonly known as Verrazano Bridge, it is functional since 1964 in New York. If you are seeking the answer to the question, “Which is the longest suspension bridge in America?”, then it is Verrazano Narrows Bridge.
Due to its long length, it enjoys a special place on the list of the top 10 longest bridges in the US. Verrazano Bridge connects Broolyn and Staten Island to help people travel in less time.
Giovanni da Verrazzano was the first European voyager in the Hudson River and the New York Harbor. Hence, this bridge is named after him. Moreover, Verrazzano is designed by Othmar Ammann using his creative mindset.
- Year of Opening – 1964
- Investment Cost – $325 million
- Length – 4,176 m
- Carries – 13 Lanes of I-278
Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge
Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge is a twin trestle bridge that opened in 1972. Since its opening, the Louisiana Department of Transporation and Development is managing it.
The 45 miles wide bridge carried 4 lanes and it handles a high volume of traffic in the US. Apart from this, Bonnet Carre Spillway bridge carries I-10 over the Lower Mississippi Valley, Lake Pontchartrain, and LaBranche Wetlands.
Moreover, it also covers some portion of St. John the Baptist Parishes. It is one of the popular bridges in America. Following are the details about Bonnet Carre Spillway Bridge:
- Year of Opening – 1972
- Length – 17.702 Km
- Carries – 4 lanes of I-10
San Mateo–Hayward Bridge
Commonly known as San Mateo Bridge, it is located in California, the US. It connects the East Bay and the San Francisco Peninsula to help commuters travel easily.
While traveling through this bridge, travelers need to pay tool at the toll plaza. The 41m wide bridge bears a daily traffic of 93,000. And the locales of the bridges are Foster City and Hayward, California.
- Year of Opening – 1929
- Investment Cost – $70,000,000 (equivalent to $418 million in 2019)
- Length – 11.270 Km
- Carries – 6 lanes of SR 92
So, these are some of the popular bridges of the US that make news due to their great architecture and long-length.
From the above discussion, it is very much clear that Lake Pontchartrain Causeway bridge is the longest bridge in the US. Being the longest covered bridge in the US, many local and international people visit this bridge every year.
Besides, the current structure of these bridges, regular construction work continues to improve these bridges. As a result, it helps travelers to enjoy safe and smooth traveling journey through these bridges.
In a nutshell, we can conclude that the US has many long bridges that improve the connectivity between different places. In case, you have not visited any of these bridges then you must think of planning a visit.
Until now, we have only covered the longest bridges in the USA. But to help you gain more knowledge on this subject, we have also enlisted many other longest suspension bridges in America. Read below to know about them.
Longest Suspension Bridges in the US
The US has many longest suspension bridges in the US that help in improving connectivity. Besides depicting the enginnering innovation, these suspension bridges over water ease traveling to various US parts.
Othmar H. Ammann, a popular Swiss-Aerican structural engineer is the name behind four of the top 10 longest suspension bridges in America. Here is a brief information about these bridges that you must know:
Golden Gate Bridge
Golden Gate Bridges spans the Golden Gate Strait and it connects San Francisco to the County of Marin. If we talk about its length, it measures 2.737 Km with 6 lanes. After its construction, the bridge opened in May 1937 and it took $35 million to construct it.
Mackinac Bridge
Mackinac bridge has a total length of 8.038 Km and its construction cost stands at $99.8 million. It is located in northern Michigan and it is the third largest suspension bridge in the US.
The four lane bridge covers the Straits of Mackinac. Besides, it connects the Mackinaw and St. Ignace cities conveniently. Mackinac bridge became operational in 1958 and it enjoys a lot of daily traffic.
George Washington Bridge
George Washington Bridge moves over the Hudson river and it connects New York & New Jersey. The US I-95 highway bridge has a total length of 1.067 km. Designed by Othmar H. Ammann, the bridge has 14 lanes and it became operation in 1962
Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Tacoma Narrows Bridges has a set of two suspension bridges that spreads over the Tacoma Narrows Strait of Puget Sound in Pierce County, Washington.
The bridge connects the city of Tacoma and the Kitsap Peninsula. It has a total length of 1.822 Km and it completed in 1950.
Carquinez Bridge
Carquinez Bridge is another suspension bridge in America which links San Francisco with Sacramento. It spans over the Carquinez Strait in California.
Talking about its length, the number stands at 1.056 Km and the suspension bridge started functioning in 2003. And Carquinez Bridge covers I-80 highway in the US.
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
This bridge spans San Francisco Bay in California and it has two double-deck bridges on the Interstate-80 highway. Its western section connects San Francisco to Yerba Buena Island and the eastern section links it to Oakland.
San Francisco-Oakland Bay bridge has a total length of 7,180 m. It was in 1936 when it became functional after 3 years of construction work.
Bronx-Whitestone Bridge
Another suspension bridge on the list is Bronx-Whitestone bridge which has a total length of 1.149 Km. Maintained by MTA Bridges and Tunnels, Bronx-Whitestone Bridge covers the East River.
Additionally, it links the boroughs of Queens on Long Island and The Bronx. Bronx-Whitestone bridge came into effect in 1939 and it carries two lanes of Interstate 678.
Delaware Memorial Bridge
Delaware Memorial Bridge carries over interstate 295 and US Route 40. In this way, it connects Delaware to New Jersey. Moreover, it is built over the Delaware River, its overall length is 1.112 Km.
Walt Whitman Bridge
Walt Whitman Bridge is spanning over the Delaware River and it links the cities of Philadelphia with Gloucester. It covers the Interstate 76 and it has an overall length of 3.652 km. After completion of construction work, it opened to traffic in the year 1957.
FAQs on Different Longest Bridges in the US
People often ask many questions regarding the longest bridges in America. Here, we have tried to provide the best possible answers to some of these questions. Read below to know about it.
The difference between a cable stayed bridge and a suspension bridge is the way cables are connected to the towers. In the case of suspension bridges, the cables ride openly across the towers. Whereas in cable-stayed bridges, the cables are attached to the towers.
Yes, bridges enjoy weight restrictions due to the deterioration of beams over time. It leads to the weakening of structures and affects the overall capacity to carry weight.
Louisiana has the maximum number of longest bridges in America. Interestingly, Louisiana has got 4 bridges in total.
A span is the intermediate distance between the two supports of a bridge structure.
Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the US.
Interestingly, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is the costliest bridge to cross in the US. It is due to a hike in toll rate to $19 by a New York Metropolitan Transit Authority.
You read about different longest bridges in the US in this post. I tried my level best to help you know about the longest bridge in the US with its details. And not just that, we also shared with you some information about the suspension bridges in the US. I hope you found this article helpful and knowledgeable.
