List of bridges in the United States facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts

The United States is home to many amazing bridges! These incredible structures help people travel across rivers, bays, and other obstacles. Bridges connect cities and states, making it easier for us to get where we need to go.

This article will tell you about some of the biggest and most famous bridges in the U.S. We'll look at bridges that are still in use today, and some that are no longer standing.

Awesome Bridges You Can See Today
Bridges That Are No Longer Standing
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Awesome Bridges You Can See Today

Here are some of the longest and most important bridges in the United States. They all have a main span (the longest unsupported part) of over 300 meters (about 984 feet)!

Famous Suspension Bridges

Many of the longest bridges are suspension bridges. These bridges hang from strong cables that are supported by tall towers. Think of a giant hammock!

Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York (connecting Staten Island and Brooklyn)
- Opened: 1964
- Main Span: 1,298 meters (4,259 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 278 (a major highway)
- Fun Fact: This bridge was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened! It has two levels for cars.

Golden Gate Bridge
- Location: San Francisco, California (connecting San Francisco and Sausalito)
- Opened: 1937
- Main Span: 1,280 meters (4,199 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 101 and California State Route 1
- Fun Fact: The Golden Gate Bridge is one of the most famous landmarks in the world! Its unique orange color helps it stand out against the sky and water.

Mackinac Bridge
- Location: Mackinaw City and St. Ignace, Michigan
- Opened: 1957
- Main Span: 1,158 meters (3,799 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 75
- Fun Fact: Locals call it "Mighty Mac." It connects Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas, making travel much easier.

George Washington Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York and Fort Lee, New Jersey
- Opened: 1931
- Main Span: 1,067 meters (3,501 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 95, U.S. Route 1/9, U.S. Route 46
- Fun Fact: This bridge is one of the busiest in the world, with two levels carrying many lanes of traffic.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge
- Location: Tacoma, Washington
- Opened: 1950 (East bridge) and 2007 (West bridge)
- Main Span: 853 meters (2,799 feet) for both
- What it carries: Washington State Route 16
- Fun Fact: There are actually two bridges here! The first Tacoma Narrows Bridge collapsed in 1940 due to strong winds, a famous event in engineering history. The current bridges are much stronger.

Alfred Zampa Memorial Bridge
- Location: Vallejo and Crockett, California
- Opened: 2003
- Main Span: 728 meters (2,388 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 80
- Fun Fact: This bridge is part of the busy Interstate 80, a major route across the country.

San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge (West bridge)
- Location: San Francisco and Yerba Buena Island, California
- Opened: 1936
- Main Span: 704 meters (2,310 feet) (two main spans)
- What it carries: Interstate 80
- Fun Fact: This huge bridge has two levels and connects San Francisco to the East Bay.

Bronx–Whitestone Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York (connecting The Bronx and Queens)
- Opened: 1939
- Main Span: 701 meters (2,300 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 678
- Fun Fact: It's a key link for traffic moving through New York City.

Delaware Memorial Bridge
- Location: New Castle, Delaware and Pennsville, New Jersey
- Opened: 1951 and 1968 (twin bridges)
- Main Span: 655 meters (2,149 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 295 and U.S. Route 40
- Fun Fact: This bridge is actually two separate suspension bridges, one for each direction of traffic!

Walt Whitman Bridge
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Gloucester City, New Jersey
- Opened: 1957
- Main Span: 610 meters (2,001 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 76
- Fun Fact: Named after a famous American poet, this bridge is a vital crossing over the Delaware River.

Ambassador Bridge
- Location: Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Canada
- Opened: 1929
- Main Span: 564 meters (1,850 feet)
- What it carries: Road traffic
- Fun Fact: This bridge is one of the busiest border crossings between the U.S. and Canada.

Throgs Neck Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York (connecting The Bronx and Queens)
- Opened: 1961
- Main Span: 549 meters (1,801 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 295
- Fun Fact: It helps ease traffic on other New York City bridges.

Benjamin Franklin Bridge
- Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and Camden, New Jersey
- Opened: 1926
- Main Span: 534 meters (1,752 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 676, U.S. Route 30, and PATCO Speedline (a train line)
- Fun Fact: This bridge carries both cars and trains, making it a very important transportation link.

Bear Mountain Bridge
- Location: Bear Mountain State Park and Cortlandt, New York
- Opened: 1924
- Main Span: 497 meters (1,631 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 6 and U.S. Route 202
- Fun Fact: It was the longest suspension bridge in the world for a short time after it opened.

Williamsburg Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York (connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn)
- Opened: 1903
- Main Span: 488 meters (1,601 feet)
- What it carries: New York State Route 27A and New York City Subway trains
- Fun Fact: This bridge is another busy New York City crossing, carrying both cars and subway lines.

Chesapeake Bay Bridge
- Location: Anne Arundel County and Queen Anne's County, Maryland
- Opened: 1952 (South bridge) and 1973 (North bridge)
- Main Span: 488 meters (1,601 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 50 and U.S. Route 301
- Fun Fact: This bridge is very long and crosses a wide bay, offering great views!

Claiborne Pell Newport Bridge
- Location: Newport and Jamestown, Rhode Island
- Opened: 1969
- Main Span: 488 meters (1,601 feet)
- What it carries: Rhode Island Route 138
- Fun Fact: It's the longest bridge in Rhode Island.

Brooklyn Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York (connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn)
- Opened: 1883
- Main Span: 486 meters (1,594 feet)
- What it carries: Road traffic
- Fun Fact: One of the oldest and most famous bridges in the U.S., it was a marvel of engineering when it was built!

Vincent Thomas Bridge
- Location: Los Angeles, California (connecting San Pedro and Terminal Island)
- Opened: 1963
- Main Span: 457 meters (1,499 feet)
- What it carries: California State Route 47
- Fun Fact: This bridge is often seen in movies and TV shows set in Los Angeles.

Mid-Hudson Bridge
- Location: Highland and Poughkeepsie, New York
- Opened: 1930
- Main Span: 456 meters (1,496 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 44 and New York State Route 55
- Fun Fact: It's a beautiful bridge crossing the Hudson River.

Manhattan Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York (connecting Manhattan and Brooklyn)
- Opened: 1909
- Main Span: 448 meters (1,470 feet)
- What it carries: Road traffic and New York City Subway trains
- Fun Fact: Like the Williamsburg Bridge, it carries both cars and subway trains.

Robert F. Kennedy Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York (connecting Manhattan and Queens)
- Opened: 1936
- Main Span: 421 meters (1,381 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 278
- Fun Fact: This bridge is also known as the Triborough Bridge and connects three boroughs of New York City.

St. Johns Bridge
- Location: Portland, Oregon
- Opened: 1931
- Main Span: 368 meters (1,207 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 30 Bypass
- Fun Fact: This bridge is known for its beautiful Gothic-style towers.

Mount Hope Bridge
- Location: Portsmouth and Bristol, Rhode Island
- Opened: 1929
- Main Span: 366 meters (1,201 feet)
- What it carries: Rhode Island Route 114
- Fun Fact: It's a historic bridge with great views of Mount Hope Bay.

Ogdensburg–Prescott International Bridge
- Location: Ogdensburg, New York and Johnstown, Canada
- Opened: 1960
- Main Span: 351 meters (1,152 feet)
- What it carries: New York State Route 812
- Fun Fact: This bridge connects the U.S. and Canada over the St. Lawrence River.

Bidwell Bar Bridge
- Location: Oroville, California
- Opened: 1965
- Main Span: 338 meters (1,109 feet)
- What it carries: California State Route 162
- Fun Fact: This bridge was moved from its original location when Lake Oroville was created!

Deer Isle Bridge
- Location: Sedgwick and Little Deer Isle, Maine
- Opened: 1939
- Main Span: 329 meters (1,079 feet)
- What it carries: Maine State Route 15
- Fun Fact: It's a beautiful bridge in a scenic part of Maine.

Simon Kenton Memorial Bridge
- Location: Maysville, Kentucky and Aberdeen, Ohio
- Opened: 1932
- Main Span: 323 meters (1,060 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 62, U.S. Route 68, Ohio State Route 41
- Fun Fact: This bridge connects Kentucky and Ohio over the Ohio River.

John A. Roebling Suspension Bridge
- Location: Cincinnati, Ohio and Covington, Kentucky
- Opened: 1866
- Main Span: 322 meters (1,056 feet)
- What it carries: Kentucky Route 17
- Fun Fact: This historic bridge was a test run for the famous Brooklyn Bridge, which was designed by the same engineer!

Dent Bridge
- Location: Clearwater County, Idaho
- Opened: 1971
- Main Span: 320 meters (1,050 feet)
- What it carries: Dent Bridge Road
- Fun Fact: It crosses a reservoir created by the Dworshak Dam.

Wheeling Suspension Bridge
- Location: Wheeling, West Virginia
- Opened: 1849
- Main Span: 308 meters (1,010 feet)
- What it carries: Foot traffic
- Fun Fact: This bridge was the longest in the world when it opened! It's now mainly for people walking.

Cool Arch Bridges

Arch bridges get their strength from their curved shape, which pushes weight outwards to the supports.

New River Gorge Bridge
- Location: Fayetteville, West Virginia
- Opened: 1977
- Main Span: 518 meters (1,699 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 19
- Fun Fact: This is the longest single-span arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere! It's also very high above the river.

Bayonne Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York and Bayonne, New Jersey
- Opened: 1931
- Main Span: 510 meters (1,673 feet)
- What it carries: New York State Route 440 and New Jersey Route 440
- Fun Fact: It was the longest arch bridge in the world when it opened.

Fremont Bridge
- Location: Portland, Oregon
- Opened: 1973
- Main Span: 382 meters (1,253 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 405 and U.S. Route 30
- Fun Fact: This bridge has two levels for traffic.

Theodore Roosevelt Lake Bridge
- Location: Gila County and Maricopa County, Arizona
- Opened: 1990
- Main Span: 329 meters (1,079 feet)
- What it carries: Arizona State Route 188
- Fun Fact: It crosses a large lake in Arizona.

Mike O'Callaghan–Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge
- Location: Clark County, Nevada and Mohave County, Arizona
- Opened: 2010
- Main Span: 323 meters (1,060 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 11 and U.S. Route 93
- Fun Fact: This bridge offers amazing views of the Hoover Dam and the Colorado River.

Glen Canyon Dam Bridge
- Location: Coconino County, Arizona
- Opened: 1959
- Main Span: 313 meters (1,027 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 89
- Fun Fact: It's located near the famous Glen Canyon Dam.

Lewiston–Queenston Bridge
- Location: Lewiston, New York and Queenston, Canada
- Opened: 1962
- Main Span: 305 meters (1,001 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 190
- Fun Fact: Another important border crossing between the U.S. and Canada.

Hell Gate Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York (connecting The Bronx and Queens)
- Opened: 1917
- Main Span: 303 meters (994 feet)
- What it carries: Railway tracks for freight and passenger trains
- Fun Fact: This bridge is known for its strong and impressive design, built for heavy trains.

Perrine Bridge
- Location: Twin Falls, Idaho
- Opened: 1974
- Main Span: 303 meters (994 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 93
- Fun Fact: It's a popular spot for BASE jumping!

Modern Cable-Stayed Bridges

Cable-stayed bridges use cables that connect directly from the towers to the bridge deck. They look like giant harps!

Gordie Howe International Bridge
- Location: Detroit, Michigan and Windsor, Canada
- Expected Opening: 2025 (under construction)
- Main Span: 853 meters (2,799 feet)
- What it carries: Road traffic
- Fun Fact: This new bridge will be another major link between the U.S. and Canada.

John James Audubon Bridge
- Location: Pointe Coupee Parish and West Feliciana Parish, Louisiana
- Opened: 2011
- Main Span: 482 meters (1,581 feet)
- What it carries: Louisiana Highway 10
- Fun Fact: It's one of the longest cable-stayed bridges in the Western Hemisphere.

Harbor Bridge Project
- Location: Corpus Christi, Texas
- Expected Opening: 2025 (under construction)
- Main Span: 506.4 meters (1,661 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 181 and Texas State Highway 35
- Fun Fact: This new bridge will improve traffic flow in Corpus Christi.

Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge
- Location: Charleston and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Opened: 2005
- Main Span: 471 meters (1,545 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 17
- Fun Fact: It's a beautiful landmark in Charleston, named after a local politician.

Stan Musial Veterans Memorial Bridge
- Location: St. Louis, Missouri and St. Clair County, Missouri
- Opened: 2014
- Main Span: 457 meters (1,499 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 70
- Fun Fact: Named after a famous baseball player, this bridge helps traffic cross the Mississippi River.

Greenville Bridge
- Location: Refuge, Mississippi and Shives, Arkansas
- Opened: 2010
- Main Span: 420 meters (1,378 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 82 and U.S. Route 278
- Fun Fact: It's a modern bridge connecting Mississippi and Arkansas.

Sam Houston Ship Channel Bridge Replacement
- Location: Harris County, Texas
- Expected Opening: 2025 (under construction)
- Main Span: 402.4 meters (1,320 feet)
- What it carries: Sam Houston Tollway
- Fun Fact: This new bridge will replace an older one to handle more traffic.

Dames Point Bridge
- Location: Jacksonville, Florida
- Opened: 1989
- Main Span: 396 meters (1,299 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 295 and Florida State Road 9A
- Fun Fact: It's a key part of Jacksonville's highway system.

Sidney Lanier Bridge
- Location: Brunswick, Georgia
- Opened: 2003
- Main Span: 381 meters (1,250 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 17
- Fun Fact: This bridge is the tallest structure in Georgia.

Fred Hartman Bridge
- Location: Baytown and La Porte, Texas
- Opened: 1995
- Main Span: 381 meters (1,250 feet)
- What it carries: Texas State Highway 146
- Fun Fact: It's a twin bridge, meaning there are two separate bridges side-by-side.

Hale Boggs Memorial Bridge
- Location: Luling and Destrehan, Louisiana
- Opened: 1983
- Main Span: 372 meters (1,220 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 310
- Fun Fact: This bridge is a major crossing of the Mississippi River.

Tappan Zee Bridge (also known as the Mario Cuomo Bridge)
- Location: Tarrytown and South Nyack, New York
- Opened: 2017
- Main Span: 370 meters (1,214 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 87, Interstate 287, New York State Thruway
- Fun Fact: This is a brand new twin bridge that replaced an older one, built to last 100 years!

Sunshine Skyway Bridge
- Location: St. Petersburg and Terra Ceia, Florida
- Opened: 1987
- Main Span: 366 meters (1,201 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 275 and U.S. Route 19
- Fun Fact: This bridge is known for its distinctive yellow cables and beautiful design.

William H. Natcher Bridge
- Location: Rockport, Indiana and Maceo, Kentucky
- Opened: 2002
- Main Span: 366 meters (1,201 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 231
- Fun Fact: It connects Indiana and Kentucky over the Ohio River.

Lewis and Clark Bridge (Ohio River)
- Location: Prospect, Kentucky and Utica, Indiana
- Opened: 2016
- Main Span: 366 meters (1,201 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 265 and Kentucky Route 841
- Fun Fact: This is another new bridge helping traffic flow in the Louisville area.

Penobscot Narrows Bridge
- Location: Prospect and Verona Island, Maine
- Opened: 2006
- Main Span: 354 meters (1,161 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 1 and Maine State Route 3
- Fun Fact: It has an observatory at the top of one of its towers where you can see amazing views!

Bill Emerson Memorial Bridge
- Location: Cape Girardeau, Missouri and East Cape Girardeau, Illinois
- Opened: 2003
- Main Span: 351 meters (1,152 feet)
- What it carries: Missouri Route 34, Missouri Route 74, Illinois Route 146
- Fun Fact: It's a beautiful cable-stayed bridge over the Mississippi River.

Talmadge Memorial Bridge
- Location: Savannah, Georgia
- Opened: 1991
- Main Span: 335 meters (1,099 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 17 and Georgia State Route 404 Spur
- Fun Fact: This bridge is a gateway to the historic city of Savannah.

Long Beach International Gateway
- Location: Long Beach and Terminal Island, California
- Opened: 2020
- Main Span: 305 meters (1,001 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 710
- Fun Fact: This modern bridge helps connect the busy Port of Long Beach.

Strong Cantilever Bridges

Cantilever bridges are built using structures that extend horizontally into space, supported only at one end. Think of a diving board!

Commodore Barry Bridge
- Location: Chester, Pennsylvania and Bridgeport, New Jersey
- Opened: 1974
- Main Span: 501 meters (1,644 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 322 and County Route 536
- Fun Fact: It's one of the longest cantilever bridges in the U.S.

Crescent City Connection
- Location: New Orleans, Louisiana
- Opened: 1958 and 1988 (twin bridges)
- Main Span: 480 meters (1,575 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 90 Business and Interstate 910
- Fun Fact: These twin bridges are a famous sight in New Orleans, crossing the Mississippi River.

Gramercy Bridge
- Location: Gramercy and Wallace, Louisiana
- Opened: 1995
- Main Span: 445 meters (1,460 feet)
- What it carries: Louisiana Highway 3213
- Fun Fact: It's another important crossing over the Mississippi River in Louisiana.

Horace Wilkinson Bridge
- Location: Baton Rouge and Port Allen, Louisiana
- Opened: 1968
- Main Span: 376 meters (1,234 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 10
- Fun Fact: This bridge is a key part of Interstate 10, a major highway across the southern U.S.

Lewis and Clark Bridge (Columbia River)
- Location: Longview, Washington and Rainier, Oregon
- Opened: 1930
- Main Span: 366 meters (1,201 feet)
- What it carries: Washington State Route 433
- Fun Fact: It's a historic bridge connecting Washington and Oregon.

Queensboro Bridge
- Location: New York City, New York (connecting Manhattan and Queens)
- Opened: 1909
- Main Span: 360 meters (1,181 feet)
- What it carries: New York State Route 25
- Fun Fact: This bridge has two levels and is a busy crossing in New York City.

Carquinez Bridge (East bridge)
- Location: Vallejo and Crockett, California
- Opened: 1927 and 1958
- Main Span: 335 meters (1,099 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 80
- Fun Fact: This bridge is part of a pair of bridges crossing the Carquinez Strait.

Richmond–San Rafael Bridge
- Location: San Rafael and Richmond, California
- Opened: 1956
- Main Span: 326 meters (1,070 feet) (two main spans)
- What it carries: Interstate 580
- Fun Fact: This bridge has two levels for traffic and crosses San Francisco Bay.

Newburgh–Beacon Bridge
- Location: Newburgh and Beacon, New York
- Opened: 1963 and 1980 (twin bridges)
- Main Span: 305 meters (1,001 feet)
- What it carries: Interstate 84 and New York State Route 52
- Fun Fact: These twin bridges are important for crossing the Hudson River.

Truss Bridges

Truss bridges use a framework of connected triangles to spread out the weight and make the bridge strong.

Astoria–Megler Bridge
- Location: Astoria, Oregon and Megler, Washington
- Opened: 1966
- Main Span: 376 meters (1,234 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 101
- Fun Fact: This is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America!

Hart Bridge
- Location: Jacksonville, Florida
- Opened: 1967
- Main Span: 332 meters (1,089 feet)
- What it carries: U.S. Route 1 Alternate and Florida State Road 228
- Fun Fact: It's a well-known bridge in Jacksonville.

Bridges That Are No Longer Standing

Sometimes, old bridges are replaced by newer, stronger ones, or they might even collapse. Here are a few important bridges that are no longer in use.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge (1940)
- Location: Tacoma, Washington
- Opened: 1940
- Main Span: 853 meters (2,799 feet)
- What it carried: Washington State Route 16
- Fun Fact: This bridge was famous for swaying a lot in the wind, earning it the nickname "Galloping Gertie." It collapsed just four months after it opened due to strong winds.

San Francisco–Oakland Bay Bridge (East bridge)
- Location: San Francisco and Oakland, California
- Opened: 1936
- Main Span: 427 meters (1,401 feet)
- What it carried: Interstate 80
- Fun Fact: This part of the Bay Bridge was taken down in 2014 and replaced with a new, safer bridge.

First Niagara Clifton Bridge
- Location: Niagara Falls, New York and Niagara Falls, Ontario, Canada
- Opened: 1869
- Main Span: 386 meters (1,266 feet)
- What it carried: Road traffic
- Fun Fact: This early suspension bridge was destroyed by a severe storm in 1889.

Tappan Zee Bridge (1955–2017)
- Location: Tarrytown and South Nyack, New York
- Opened: 1955
- Main Span: 369 meters (1,211 feet)
- What it carried: Interstate 87, Interstate 287, New York State Thruway
- Fun Fact: This bridge was taken down in 2017 after its replacement, the new Tappan Zee Bridge (Mario Cuomo Bridge), was built right next to it.

Francis Scott Key Bridge (Baltimore)
- Location: Baltimore, Maryland
- Opened: 1977
- Main Span: 366 meters (1,201 feet)
- What it carried: Interstate 695
- Fun Fact: This bridge tragically collapsed in 2024 after being hit by a large ship.

John P. Grace Memorial Bridge
- Location: Charleston and Mount Pleasant, South Carolina
- Opened: 1929
- Main Span: 320 meters (1,050 feet)
- What it carried: U.S. Route 17
- Fun Fact: This bridge was taken down in 2005 after the new Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge was built.