Bridges are a staple of modern life. They’re essential for transportation and connect different parts of the world. But which bridges are the most famous in the world? In this article, we’ll take a look at 10 of the most famous bridges in the world, from the Golden Gate Bridge to the Sydney Harbour Bridge. Not only will you learn about their individual histories, but you’ll also get a glimpse into how these bridges have shaped world culture. So whether you’re traveling or just looking for something to do on a rainy day, read on to learn about some of the world’s most famous bridges. You won’t regret it.
The Golden Gate Bridge
The Golden Gate Bridge, also known as the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge, is a double-decker bridge that spans the Golden Gate Strait in California. The bridge connects San Francisco on the north side and Oakland on the south side and has a main span of 4,200 feet (1,312 m). With a total length of 7,500 feet (2,286 m), it is the largest suspension bridge in North America. The bridge was completed on May 27, 1937, four years after its originally proposed date of 1936. It carried U.S. Route 40 until 1987 when it was replaced by Interstate 80. Today, the Golden Gate Bridge is a registered National Historic Landmark.
Completed in 1937 at a cost of $36 million ($819 million in 2016), it was initially called the “San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge” but was renamed in 1987 to commemorate Presidio of Monterey Lieutenant Colonel William Tecumseh Sherman’s famous march across Georgia and South Carolina to victory over Confederate General Robert E Lee at the Battle of Savannah on September 8th 1864.
The Brooklyn Bridge
1. The Brooklyn Bridge was built in 1883 and is one of the oldest bridges still in use. It spans the East River between Manhattan and Brooklyn and has been named one of the Seven Wonders of the World.
2. The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge that connects San Francisco, California, with Marin County, north of San Francisco. Completed in 1937, it is the longest suspension bridge in the world and was designated a National Historic Landmark in 1987.
3. The Sydney Opera House was designed by Jørn Utzon and opened on November 20, 1973. It is a landmark structure in Sydney, Australia, and features an opera house, a concert hall, and exhibition spaces.
4. The Eiffel Tower is arguably the most well-known tower in the world and was built for the 1900 World’s Fair in Paris. It is made from iron and stands at 1,063 feet (329 meters) tall; it has been renamed many times over its history, most notably as the “Tower of Light” during World War II because of its useful candlelit function as a warning sign to German bombers flying over France.
The Sydney Harbour Bridge
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is a bridge that spans the Sydney Harbour between the Sydney central business district and the suburb of Darling Point in New South Wales, Australia. The bridge officially opened on 15 March 1932 and had a total cost of A$24 million. It is the world’s most popular paid tourist destination with over 8 million visitors in 2012. The bridge has also been called “the biggest concrete structure in the world”.
The bridge was designed by Australian architect John Sulman and British engineer Sir Douglas Mawson. Construction began in 1929 and took eight years to complete. Over 20,000 workers were employed during construction, which made it one of the largest construction projects of its time. The bridge has an overall length of 8,828 m (29,056 ft), a main span of 1,977 m (6,092 ft) and a width of 79 m (258 ft).
The Sydney Harbour Bridge is composed of two identical 4-lane suspension bridges hung from four massive steel arches that are visually stunning when illuminated at night. The two bridges are linked by a 210 m (689 ft) long pedestrian walkway that features shops, restaurants and cafes. The average speed limit for vehicles on the bridge is 70 km/h (43 mph).
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge is the longest suspension bridge in the world and is also one of the most dangerous. The bridge connects Staten Island and Brooklyn, NY. Spanning just under five miles, it is also one of the widest bridges in the world. Construction on the bridge began in 1957 and it was finally completed in 1964. The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge has a total of six lanes and can handle up to 50,000 cars per day. It is also one of the few bridges that allows for both vehicular and pedestrian traffic.
The George Washington Bridge
The George Washington Bridge is the world’s busiest pedestrian and vehicular bridge, connecting New York City and Jersey City, New Jersey. The bridge was originally named the Bayonne Bridge after the municipality that built it and opened it to traffic on May 14, 1931. It was renamed for President George Washington in 1940. At 3,500 feet long, with a main span of 1,595 feet and a width of 105 feet at its center, it is the fourth-longest suspension bridge in the United States. The cost of constructing the bridge was $35 million in 1930s dollars ($620 million in today’s terms). In 1978, due to safety concerns related to its load-carrying capacity as well as its susceptibility to windstorms and earthquakes, the bridge was closed for two years while engineers assessd its structural integrity. Today, approximately 292 thousand vehicles cross the George Washington Bridge daily.
The Quebec Bridge
The Quebec Bridge is a 1,841-foot truss bridge that crosses the St. Lawrence River between Quebec City, Canada and Montréal, Québec. It was designed by American engineer Arthur E. Elmore and opened in 1939. The bridge was declared a historic monument in 1989 and is now a registered National Historic Site of Canada. The Quebec Bridge is the longest single-span steel arch bridge in the world and has been called “the most beautiful bridge in the world.”
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world. The bridge connects Tacoma, Washington and Olympia, Washington. The bridge was built in 1940 and it is a suspension bridge. The bridge has a total length of 3,264 feet and it has a span of 1,893 feet. The width of the bridge is just 44 feet.
The Aurora Bridge
The Aurora Bridge is one of the most famous bridges in the world. It spans the Chicago River and connects the city’s downtown area with the Illinois Medical District. The bridge was designed by John A. Roebling, who also designed New York’s Brooklyn Bridge and was one of the pioneers of cable-stayed bridge construction. The bridge opened to traffic in 1857 and has since been designated a National Historic Landmark.
San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge
The San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge is one of the oldest and most famous bridges in the world. Spanning 4,200 feet across the bay, it was completed in 1936 and has been a major transportation route ever since. The bridge is also known for its dramatic suspension cables, which are some of the longest in the world.
Conclusion
There are a number of famous bridges in the world that many people would recognize, but which ones make the list? Here are 10 of the most famous bridges in the world: Golden Gate Bridge, Brooklyn Bridge, Sydney Harbour Bridge, The George Washington Bridge, Hollywood Sign over Los Angeles, The Pont Alexandre III over Paris, Ponte Vecchio in Florence, The Prince Of Wales Tunnel under Auckland City Centre, Tower Bridge over London and The Millau Viaduct over Toulouse. What bridge is your favorite? Let us know in the comments below!
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