7 vehicular bridges that defy limits

Celeste Polidori
July 11, 2024

Discover the world's 7 most impressive vehicular bridges

Traveling roads requires courage, as dangers are always present. But what happens when one must cross the world’s most terrifying bridges? Whether for thrill-seeking drivers or those who prefer to avoid it, the following list presents eight global bridges that could easily star in a nightmare.

The world’s 7 most impressive vehicular bridges

1. Slauerhoff Bridge, Netherlands

Located in Leeuwarden, Netherlands, the Slauerhoff Bridge is renowned for its ingenious design. Situated in a canal area, it required a creative solution to facilitate vehicle passage. The bridge features a 15-square-meter platform that swings with a powerful mechanical arm. When lowered, it allows land vehicles to cross, and when raised, it accommodates passing boats underneath.

2. Sidu River Bridge, China

One of the most incredible suspension bridges, the Sidu River Bridge spans 1,222 meters across the Sidu River Valley. During construction, workers used a rocket to install the suspension cable. Despite its terrifying appearance, it supports 43 million tons.

3. Royal Gorge Bridge, United States

This bridge in Colorado rises over 321 meters above the Arkansas River and spans 384 meters in length and 5 meters in width. Primarily a pedestrian bridge due to its wooden structure, it also permits service vehicles to cross. It is the highest pedestrian bridge in the United States.

4. Eshima Ohashi Bridge, Japan

With a height of 44 meters and a length of 1.7 kilometers, this bridge is Japan’s longest rigid bridge and the third longest in the world. Its steep incline resembles a roller coaster but is designed to allow ships to pass underneath. Despite its daunting appearance from certain angles, the slope is gradual.

5. Falkirk Wheel, Scotland

The Falkirk Wheel is not a bridge for land vehicles but a notable innovation in transportation. It’s a boat lift that can rotate 180 degrees. The structure has a total diameter of 35 meters, with two opposing arms extending 15 meters from the axis, resembling a Celtic ax shape.

6. Seven Mile Bridge, United States

An icon in the Florida Keys, the Seven Mile Bridge is one of the longest bridges of its time. Part of the Overseas Highway on the Keys, it stretches across 3,813 kilometers (7 miles) of U.S. Route 1. Completed in 1982, it was once the longest continuous segmental concrete bridge in the world and remains one of the longest in America. The modern bridge is open to vehicular traffic, while the old bridge is accessible only to pedestrians and cyclists.

7. Millau Viaduct, France

This French viaduct supports a stretch of the A75 highway, connecting Causse Rouge with Causse du Larzac over a 2,460-meter gap. It reaches a maximum height of 343 meters at its highest point, where winds can exceed 200 km/h.