Bridges are a beautiful thing. They help us cross bodies of water, traverse canyons, and can also be works of art. They are a testament to the determination of man to get to where we want to go. As beautiful and helpful as they are, they can also be incredibly unnerving. It's against human nature to be so high up with imminent death on either side of you. Try not to get vertigo; these are the most insane bridges around the world.
The Old Bridge Of Konitsa
Located in Eprius, Greece, the Bridge of Konitsa is the stone portal that leads to and from the ancient town of Konitsa. Built in 1870, it crosses where the Aoos river meets the Voidomatis river. Rich with history, the region was first inhabited way back in 2100 BC it looks as though ancient Greeks might have traversed the bridge at some point.
The narrow bridge is likely the largest single-arch bridge in the Balkans.
Capilano Suspension Bridge
Located in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Capilano Suspension Bridge Park is one of the area's most prominent attractions. Built in 1889, the bridge is 450 long and 230 high. Located right above the Capilano River, this scenic bridge is surrounded by the beautiful forests of Vancouver.
When "Mac" MacEachran purchased the bridge in 1935, he invited local natives to place totem poles in the park, which visitors can still view today.
Road Trip Across The Navajo Bridges
The Navajo Bridges are two two steel parallel-running bridges that cross the Colorado River in northern Arizona. Originally named the Grand Canyon Bridge, the bridges connect southern Utah to Arizona, making it a perfect route for a road trip or a beautiful walk, as it opened to pedestrians in 1995. It sits 476 feet above the Colorado River with a breathtaking view.
The Navajo Bridges are tied at ninth place among the highest bridges in the United States.
Pulau Langkawi Sky Bridge
Completed in 2005, the Langkawi Sky Bridge is a pedestrian cable bridge that is 2,710 feet above sea level and stretches a curvy 450 feet. The bridge hangs over the peak of the Gunung Mat Chinchang on the main island of the Langkawi island cluster in Kedah, Malaysia. The views are incredible!
The stunning bridge was closed in July 2012 for maintenance and upgrading and finally had a partial reopening in February of 2015.
The Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge
When it opened in 2016, the Zhangjiajie Glass Bridge was the longest and tallest glass-bottomed bridge in the world. Located in China, it measures 1,410 feet long, 20 feet wide, and is suspended an incredible 853 above the ground.
It's a pedestrian-only bridge and is designed to hold up to 800 people at a time. But don't look down while you're crossing or you may get a serious case of vertigo.
Mackinac Bridge, Michigan
This bridge can be so frightening for people to cross that there's a free 24/7 service called The Mackinac Bridge Authority's Drivers Assistance Program which provides people with a driver!
The Mackinac Bridge connects Michigan’s Upper and Lower Peninsulas. The height and the wind, which often exceeds 30 mph. If you're curious to see the bridge without actually crossing it yourself, there is a webcam online as well as weather and traffic updates.
The Millau Viaduct Is One Of The Tallest
The Millau Viaduct is in the gorge valley near Millau in the south of France. It's 890 feet from the deck to the ground, making it the 22nd highest bridge in the world. But, if you were to measure it from the field to the top of the most upper mast (1,104 feet) it's the tallest bridge
The Millau Viaduct won 2006 Outstanding Structure Award from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering.
Pont du Gard Aqueduct
Although there may not look like there's anything wrong with it, you might hesitate to cross after learning that it was built in 40 AD. Although Roman architecture has proven to be sound, a bridge that old seems questionable.
The beautiful Pont du Gard Aqueduct has been visited by tourists for centuries and is one of France's top five tourist attractions. It was initially used as an aqueduct and as a way to cross the river.
The Longest Bridge Over Water: Jiaozhou Bay Bridge
The Jiaozhou Bay Bridge is a roadway in China's Shandong province. It's one of the longest bridges over water, measuring in at just under 25 miles. The company that constructed the bridge claims that it has the world's largest number of oversea bored concrete piles
If you don't like being on bridges for an extended amount of time, you might want to avoid this one at all costs, even though it can save 20-30 minutes on your commute time.
Cherrapunji Root Bridge
If you want to feel like you're walking in a fantasy world, check out the root bridge in Meghalaya, India. The Nongriat village in Cherrapunji has spent generations directing the growth of these trees and roots to construct an entirely nature-made bridge.
Because of the climate, most wooden bridges would collapse, but the trees used in these amazing bridges have extremely powerful roots that can withstand the test of time.
Eshima Ohashi Bridge
Just take a glance at this steep-looking bridge! The Eshima Ohashi Bridge is a ridged-frame bridge in Japan. It connects cities on either side of Nakaumi Lake. The bridge was constructed from 1997 to 2004.
It is the third-largest rigid-frame bridge in the world. Despite the appearance in photos, however, the bridge is not as steep as it looks. It has a 6.1% gradient in the side of Shimane and a 5.1% gradient in the Tottori side.
Mount Titlis Bridge: The World's Scariest Bridge
At around 10,000 feet above sea level, the Mount Titlis suspension bridge, known as the "Titlis Cliff Walk," is 328 feet long and only 3 feet wide. Located in the Swiss Alps, it is considered to be the highest suspension bridge in Europe.
It opened in 2012, in the middle of a snowstorm nonetheless, and was described by the media as "the world's scariest bridge." Rest assured, however, that the bridge was designed to withstand winds that reach over 120 mph.
The Confederation Bridge
The Confederation Bridge, formerly referred to as the "Fixed Link," connects Prince Edward Island with New Brunswick, Canada. The construction of the two-lane bridge took four years between 1993 and 1997. The bridge is around 200 feet tall and approximately 8 miles long traveling above the ice-cold water below.
It takes about 12 minutes to cross the Confederation Bridge when driving at the speed limit, which is 50 mph in good weather conditions.
Pulaski Skyway Is New Jersey's "Death Highway"
The Pulaski Skyway is one of the most beautiful bridges in New Jersey, but also one of the most dangerous. It has two 11-foot lanes on each side with a small breakdown lane in the middle, and no shoulders. This narrow drive has given it the nickname "death highway."
Pulaski Skyway is 3.5 miles long and 135 feet over the Passaic and Hackensack rivers. Over 67,000 vehicles cross it every day, and many of them speed. Since it was built in 1930, the Pulaski Skyway has seen hundreds of crashes.
Florida's Pensacola Bay Bridge Got Beaten By A Hurricane
The Pensacola Bay Bridge was relatively normal until Hurricane Sally hit in September 2020. This hurricane caused so much damage that the bridge closed for over a year. When officials first examined the bridge after Hurricane Sally, they found that four piers had been turned, one was cracked, and 30 spans were damaged.
By March 2020, officials found that Pensacola Bay Bridge was more damaged than previously thought. Despite its many repairs, it remains closed. Fortunately, drivers cannot cross the least safe bridge in the state.
Michigan's Mackinac Bridge Has Rough Winds
The Mackinac Bridge, which connects Michigan's upper and lower peninsulas, might not seem as dangerous as other bridges. It has no hills or sharp turns. However, its danger factor comes from the wind, which whips by at 30 miles per hour.
These winds can easily push cars, which shocks many drivers. At 26,372 feet long and 200 feet high, the Mackinac Bridge is no cakewalk. Drivers have to grip the wheel and focus if they don’t want their car to slide over ten feet.
Connecticut's Yankee Doodle Bridge Desperately Needs Repairs
In 2019, MSN conducted several studies on the bridges in America. Connecticut's most dangerous bridge was the Yankee Doodle Bridge in Fairfield County. This bridge, which crosses the Norwalk River on Interstate 95, is in desperate need of repairs.
Connecticut has some of the worst bridge conditions in the country, and Yankee Doodle Bridge is the worst. Since 145,000 vehicles cross the bridge every day, some residents worry that it will eventually collapse. Fortunately, the state is working on repairing its many bridges.
The Sarah Mildred Long Bridge Swings When You Drive Across
Maine is notorious for its dangerous bridges; it has the sixth-worst bridges in the nation, according to the American Road & Transportation Builders Association. One of the worst–and most popular–is the Sarah Mildred Long Bridge that crosses the Piscataqua River. Drivers have reported a "wavy" feeling while crossing this unstable bridge.
In 2018, officials reopened it after repairs, claiming that it is now safe. But some people are still concerned about crossing this 2,800-foot-long bridge. The Sarah Mildred Long Bridge sees over 20,000 vehicles per day, and it stands 300 feet above the water.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge In Virginia Frightens Firefighters
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge spans over four miles across the Chesapeake Bay in Virginia. At its highest point, it's 200 feet above the water. Terri Robinson, a driver for Kent Island Express, told Washingtonian that even policemen and firefighters get spooked while crossing the bridge.
The bridge’s height is exacerbated by its low railings. Drivers tend to get distracted by the height, only to drift and collide with another vehicle in the two-way traffic. With over 61,000 vehicles per day, the Chesapeake Bay Bridge sees a lot of distracted drivers.
Strong Winds Move The Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge In New York
Truckers dread crossing the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, which connects New York City to Staten Island. This bridge has no fences, and strong winds make it sway back in forth. In 2020, officials had to close the bridge because it was swinging too much.
Drivers in trucks and other large vehicles worry about tipping over somewhere along the 13,700-foot bridge. In March 2021, New York finally worked to install security fencing that prevents people from falling off of Verrazzano-Narrows. But that doesn't stop the swaying and violent winds.
The "Can Opener" Wrecks Trucks In North Carolina
The Norfolk Southern–Gregson Street Overpass has toppled more cars and trucks than any other in North Carolina, granting it the nickname "the Can Opener." The bridge itself is for a railroad in Durham. The danger is not on top of the bridge; it's under it!
The Norfolk Southern–Gregson Overpass is only 11-foot-8-inches high, which was standard when it was built in 1973. Since then, the standard height has risen to 14 feet. This has caused many trucks to ram into the bridge, resulting in many collisions. One hundred and one wrecks have happened there since 2008.
The Vicksburg Bridge Might Suffer From Floods
Vicksburg Bridge is one of the many bridges that cross the Mississippi River in Vicksburg, Mississippi. Since the river tends to flood, all of these bridges are risky, especially for barges. But the Vicksburg Bridge is especially bad.
This bridge has been closed many times to make it strong enough for cars, the last time being in 1998. Part of this is due to the extreme weather that cracks the bridge. When the bridge freezes over, automobile accidents occur. And when the river floods, a boat can ram right into the bridge!
The Worst Bridge In North Carolina, Greensboro
The Greensboro Bridge, otherwise known as Bridge 299 along the I-40/I-85, is North Carolina's most dangerous bridge. It is structurally unsound and potentially dangerous for drivers. In 2014, it was ranked as the state’s worst bridge for the third year in a row.
Despite being considered as "structurally deficient" by the North Carolina Department, over 134,000 vehicles cross Greensboro Bridge every day. In 2018, state officials considered rebuilding the bridge, which would cost around $12 million. But this has yet to happen, and Greensboro remains North Carolina’s worst bridge.
The Modi Khola Bridge Above Glacier Run-Off
This old suspension bridge is in the Upper Modi Khola Valley in Nepal. The bridge crosses a small river that is glacier run-off from the peaks of the Hiunchuli and Machapuchare peaks. They flow into the Madi Khola River and then throughout several channels.
Although the wooden bridge looks like it's about to fall apart, the beauty of the scenery might be worth the risk! The many people who visit each year will attest to that.
Tea Park Bridge
In Xuan'en's County in China's Hubei Province, visitors can get a bit of an adrenaline rush in a tea park, of all places. The tea park has the option to walk across the "air corridor" which is 3,200 feet long made up of wooden planks, tires, ropes, and more. It is one of the biggest and by far the most dangerous attraction at the park.
Hundreds of tourists are drawn to test their nerves on the bridge each year.