Since time immemorial humans have used bridges for moving from one location to another. So, we use bridges to cross water routes and valleys. As a result, we shorten distances and reduce the time needed for traveling. US bridges vary in length and architecture and they are constructed with different materials.
Longest Bridges In The US
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway consists of two parallel bridges. They cross Lake Pontchartrain in the southern part of the US state of Louisiana. Its length equals 126,122 feet. The Causeway’s southern terminus can be found in one of the suburbs of New Orleans, Metairie. Whereas, the Northern terminus is located in Mandeville, Louisiana. Since 1969 Guinness Book of Records has listed Lake Pontchartrain Causeway as the world’s longest bridge over water. However, after China opened Jiaozhou Bay Bridge in 2011, Guinness established two categories for bridges over water: aggregate and continuous lengths over water. Therefore, the Causeway is the world’s longest continuous bridge over water.
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Manchac Swamp Bridge
The Manchac Swamp Bridge is constructed using a concrete twin trestle structure. It is located in Louisiana and the bridge was opened in 1979. And it is 120,440 feet in length. In other words, this bridge is among the longest bridges over water. Also, it is the second-longest in the US. Furthermore, some sources claim that the Manchac Swamp Bridge is the world’s longest toll-free road bridge. It cost $7 million per mile to construct the bridge.
Atchafalaya Basin Bridge
Another longest bridge in the US is the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge. It was opened in 1973 and is located in the US state of Louisiana. More specifically, between Lafayette and Baron Rouge. The bridge pairs parallel bridges which are also referred to as the Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge. Being the third-longest bridge in the US, the length of the bridge equals 96,100 feet. Also, it is the second-longest bridge on the interstate system. Due to being quite narrow and lacking shoulders accidents near the two river crossings are frequent.
Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel’s (CBBT) length equals 79,200 feet. CBBT is a bridge-tunnel crossing and is located in the US state of Virginia at the mouth of Chesapeake Bay. These tunnels emerge on man-made islands. The bridge connects Virginia Beach to Northampton County. The tunnel was opened on April 15th, 1964. There can be found only ten bridge-tunnel systems in the world. CBBT is one of them. And, three of those are located in Hampton Roads, Virginia.
I-10 Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge
The Bonnet Carre Spillway was built after the destructive flood in 1927 that damaged about 27,000 square miles of the Lower Mississippi Valley. By diverting extra water from the Mississippi River into Lake Pontchartrain the Spillway prevents further flooding and damage. The bridge departs from the top of the Spillway dike and leads Interstate 10 over the water.
Seven Mile Bridge
Seven Mile Bridge is found within the Florida Keys and links Little Duck Key to its northern neighbor, Knight’s Key. Knight’s Key is part of Marathon, Florida. The construction of the bridge consists of an arc, which is located towards its middle area. So, to let boats pass beneath it, the arc features a 65-foot clearance. The history of the bridge leads us to Henry Morrison Flagler, who took part in starting Rockefeller’s Standard Oil Company. He wanted to expand American trade into the Caribbean.
General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge
General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge is unofficially known as the “Dolly Parton Bridge”. The bridge is easily noticeable thanks to its weathering steel arches. It acquired its nickname “Dolly Parton Bridge” because of the red lights on the arches that are lined up in such a manner that brings her figure to mind. Unfortunately, in 2014 happened a crash that involved two large semi-trucks. As a result, the bridge was damaged by the heat. Thus, the bridge had to temporarily close down.
Frank Davis “Naturally N’Awlins” Memorial Bridge
The Frank Davis “Naturally N’Awlins” Memorial bridge consists of two parallel bridges. Both of them cross the famous Lake Pontchartrain. To make material transportation easier, the bridge was mostly constructed and assembled on nearby barges. Each span opened in 1965 but after Hurricane Katrina, both required massive reconstruction.
Richmond-San Rafael Bridge
The Richmond-San Rafael Bridge is one of the longest bridges in the US. Moreover, it forms an important connection between the east and northern parts of the San Francisco Bay area. Upon opening its main function was substituting the services of the now-defunct Richmond-San Rafael Ferry Company.
Other Long Bridges In The US
There are is no standard way that is used for measuring the total length of a bridge. However, usually, they are measured from shoreline to shoreline. Some are measured from the end of the exit ramp to the start of the entrance ramp. Whereas, others are measured by the length of the total construction. 14 of the top 15 longest bridges in North America are located in the US. And, the top three longest bridges of North America are all located in the US state of Louisiana.
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