Top 10 Longest Bridges in the World, Location, Length, Main Span

Q: Which is the longest bridge in the world?

The Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge in China, with a total length of 165 km.

Q: What type of bridge is most commonly the longest?

Viaducts, used primarily in high-speed rail networks, dominate the list of longest bridges.

Q: Which is the longest suspension bridge in the world?

The 1915 Çanakkale Bridge in Turkey, with a main span of 2,023 meters.

Q: What is the longest bridge in the United States?

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana, spanning 38.4 km.

Q: Is the Golden Gate Bridge among the longest bridges?

While iconic, the Golden Gate Bridge ranks much lower in terms of length, though it remains a symbol of engineering excellence.

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Bridges are among the most remarkable feats of human engineering, connecting cities, countries, and continents. While many are known for architectural design, others are recognized due to their length, often spanning rivers, oceans, valleys, or swamps. However, defining the “longest” bridge isn’t always straightforward. Some are measured by total length (including approach spans), others by the main span, or elevation above terrain.

This article lists the Top 10 Longest Bridges in the World by total length, followed by the Top 10 Longest Bridges in the World by type, such as suspension, cable-stayed, arch, cantilever, and continuous truss bridges.

Types of Longest Bridges in the World

Before exploring the Longest Bridges in the World, it’s important to understand the different types of bridge structures:

Types of Longest Bridges in the World
Bridge Names	Key Features / Description
Viaducts	Long bridges with a series of spans; ideal for high-speed rail and highways
Suspension Bridges	Deck hangs below cables suspended between towers; allows for very long spans
Cable-Stayed Bridges	Cables run directly from one or more towers to the deck; modern and efficient design
Arch Bridges	Curved arch structure bears loads through compression; visually strong and durable
Cantilever Bridges	Horizontal beams extend into space, supported at only one end; allows construction without falsework
Continuous Truss Bridges	Connected truss framework spans long distances without hinges; ensures uniform load distribution

Longest Bridge in the World – Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge

Spanning approximately 165 kilometers (102.4 miles), the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China is the Longest Bridge in the World. It’s a viaduct, constructed primarily for high-speed rail, stretching across the Yangtze River Delta.

The Danyan Kunshan Grand Bridge supports the Beijing-Shanghai High-Speed Railway and crosses rice paddies, lakes, and river systems. Built to withstand earthquakes and extreme weather, the project employed over 10,000 workers and took four years to complete. It opened in 2011 and showcases China’s dedication to infrastructure-led growth.

Top 10 Longest Bridges in the World (By Total Length)

Below is a list of the Top 10 Longest Bridges in the World (By Total Length), most of which are viaducts used for high-speed rail:

Top 10 Longest Bridges in the World (By Total Length)
Rank	Bridge Name	Architect/Designer	Year Completed	Length (km)	Type	Location
1	Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge	China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC)	2010	164.8	Viaduct (Rail)	Between Shanghai and Nanjing, Jiangsu, China
2	Changhua-Kaohsiung Viaduct	THSRC with Toshiba, Kawasaki, Mitsubishi	2007	157.3	Viaduct (Rail)	Taiwan
3	Kita-Yaita Viaduct	–	–	114	Viaduct (Rail)	Japan
4	Tianjin Grand Bridge	China Railway Group Limited	2011	113.7	Viaduct (Rail)	Langfang to Qingxian, China
5	Cangde Grand Bridge	China Railways Group Limited (CREC)	2010	105.81	Viaduct (Rail)	Beijing–Shanghai HSR, China
6	Weinan Weihe Grand Bridge	China Railway Group Limited (CREC)	2008	79.732	Viaduct (Rail)	China
7	Bang Na Expressway	Louis Berger	2000	54	Viaduct (Road)	Thailand
8	Beijing Grand Bridge	China Railway Group Limited (CREC)	2010	48.2	Viaduct (Rail)	Beijing–Shanghai HSR, China
9	Metro Manila Skyway	C.P. Yang Construction and Development Corp.	2002–2015 (Phased)	32	Viaduct (Road)	Metro Manila, Philippines
10	Lake Pontchartrain Causeway	Hoffman & Henon; Walter J. Keller, Inc.	1956 (N), 1969 (S)	38.4 / 38.7	Causeway (Road)	Louisiana, USA
—	Wuhan Metro Bridge	CREC and CSCEC	2004	37.788	—	Wuhan, China

Note: Most of the bridges above are part of Asian high-speed rail networks and reflect modern infrastructure trends favoring viaduct designs for efficiency and resilience.

Top 10 Longest Suspension Bridges in the World

Suspension Bridges are iconic for their engineering elegance and large spans. These bridges are designed to span long distances with minimal support piers.

Top 10 Longest Suspension Bridges in the World
Rank	Bridge	Country	Main Span (m)	Main Span (miles)
1	1915 Çanakkale Bridge	Turkey	2,023	1.26
2	Akashi Kaikyo Bridge	Japan	1,991	1.24
3	Yangsigang Yangtze Bridge	China	1,700	1.06
4	Nansha Bridge (East Span)	China	1,688	1.05
5	Xihoumen Bridge	China	1,650	1.03
6	Great Belt Bridge	Denmark	1,624	1.01
7	Osman Gazi Bridge	Turkey	1,550	0.96
8	Yi Sun-sin Bridge	South Korea	1,545	0.96
9	Runyang Bridge	China	1,490	0.93
10	Second Dongtinghu Bridge	China	1,480	0.92

Top 10 Longest Cable-Stayed Bridges in the World

Cable-stayed Bridges are known for their visually striking design with towers supporting the bridge deck via cables arranged in a fan or harp pattern.

Top 10 Longest Cable-Stayed Bridges in the World
Rank	Bridge	Country	Main Span (m)	Main Span (miles)
1	Russky Bridge	Russia	1,104	0.69
2	Hutong Yangtze Bridge	China	1,092	0.68
3	Sutong Bridge	China	1,088	0.68
4	Stonecutters Bridge	Hong Kong	1,018	0.63
5	Qingshan Yangtze Bridge	China	938	0.58
6	Edong Yangtze Bridge	China	926	0.58
7	Jiayu Yangtze Bridge	China	920	0.57
8	Tatara Bridge	Japan	890	0.55
9	Pont de Normandie	France	856	0.53
10	Chizhou Yangtze Bridge	China	828	0.51

Top 10 Longest Arch Bridges in the World

Arch bridges use a curved structure that distributes weight outward along the arch and into supports at either end.

Top 10 Longest Arch Bridges in the World
Rank	Bridge	Country	Main Span (m)	Main Span (miles)
1	Pingnan Third Bridge	China	575	0.36
2	Chaotianmen Bridge	China	552	0.34
3	Lupu Bridge	China	550	0.34
4	Bosideng Bridge	China	530	0.33
5	New River Gorge Bridge	USA	518	0.32
6	Bayonne Bridge	USA	510	0.32
7	Zigui Yangtze Bridge	China	508	0.32
8	Hejiang Yangtze Bridge	China	507	0.31
9	Sydney Harbour Bridge	Australia	503	0.31
10	Wushan Bridge	China	460	0.29

Top 10 Longest Cantilever Bridges in the World

Cantilever Bridges are constructed using structures that project horizontally and are supported only on one end.

Top 10 Longest Cantilever Bridges in the World
Rank	Bridge	Country	Main Span (m)	Main Span (miles)
1	Pont de Québec	Canada	549	0.34
2	Forth Bridge	UK (Scotland)	521	0.32
3	Minato Bridge	Japan	510	0.32
4	Commodore Barry Bridge	USA	501	0.31
5	Crescent City Connection	USA	480	0.30
6	Sanguantang Bridge	China	465	0.29
7	Howrah Bridge	India	457	0.28
8	Veterans Memorial Bridge	USA	445	0.28
9	Tokyo Gate Bridge	Japan	440	0.27
10	San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge (East Span)	USA	427	0.27

Top 10 Longest Continuous Truss Bridges in the World

Continuous Truss Bridges employ a series of connected triangular trusses that offer strength and flexibility over longer spans.

Top 10 Longest Continuous Truss Bridges in the World
Rank	Bridge	Country	Main Span (m)	Main Span (miles)
1	Ikitsuki Bridge	Japan	400	0.25
2	Astoria-Megler Bridge	USA	376	0.23
3	Francis Scott Key Bridge	USA	366	0.22
4	Hart Bridge	USA	331	0.21
5	Oshima Bridge	Japan	325	0.20
6	Tenmon Bridge	Japan	300	0.19
7	Kuronoseto Bridge	Japan	300	0.19
8	Taylor-Southgate Bridge	USA	259	0.16
9	Julien Dubuque Bridge	USA	258	0.16
10	Braga Bridge	USA	256	0.16