The 30 Longest Bridges in the United States

Bridges are one of the best inventions of humanity, making way for convenient and faster travel across bodies of water.

The longest bridge in the United States by length is Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, with a total length of 38,442 meters.

Over the years and as innovation has progressed, bridges have gone from being made from wood and stone to steel and other modern materials.

In the United States, there are approximately 600,000 bridges used each day by commuters and fellow travelers.

In fact, the oldest bridge ever built in the country is the Frankford Avenue Bridge, which was built in 1697.

Of all the bridges in the US, this list compiles the 30 longest bridges.

The Longest Bridges in the United States

1. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway – 38,442 meters

• Length in Meters: 38,442
• Year Opened: 1956
• Type: Highway

Lake Pontchartrain Causeway is located in Metairie and Mandeville, Louisiana. It is the longest bridge in the US spanning a total length of 38,442 meters or 23.875 miles.

It first opened in 1956 for southbound and then in 1969 for northbound traffic. Daily traffic is estimated to be 43,000 for both of its two parallel bridges.

2. Manchac Swamp Bridge – 36,710 meters

• Length in Meters: 36,710
• Year Opened: 1979
• Type: Highway

The second-longest bridge in the US is Manchac Swamp Bridge, with a total length of 36,710 meters and a width of 95 meters.

It started servicing in 1979 and serves as a bridge for Interstate 55 and Route 51.

The bridge is among the longest bridges traversing over water and crosses over Manchac Swamp.

It can be reached in St. John the Baptist Parish or Tangipahoa Parish, Louisiana.

3. Atchafalaya Basin Bridge – 29,290 meters

• Length in Meters: 29,290
• Year Opened: 1973
• Type: Highway

Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, also known as the 20 Mile Bridge and the Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge, is the third-longest bridge in the US and the 23rd longest in the world.

The bridge stretches up to 29,290 meters in length and 12.2 meters in width.

Moreover, it carries four lanes of Interstate 10 (I-10) crossing over the Atchafalaya Basin with daily traffic of 30,430.

Its construction started in 1971 and was completed and opened in 1973.

4. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel – 24,140 meters

• Length in Meters: 24,140
• Year Opened: 1964
• Type: Highway

Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel is among the 12 bridge tunnels in the world, covering a length of 24,140 meters or 17.6 miles.

It carries four lanes of US 13, crossing over the Chesapeake Bay.

The northbound bridge opened in 1964, followed by the southbound in 1999. The official name of the bridge is Lucius J. Kellam Jr. Bridge-Tunnel, and it has serviced more than 140 million vehicles.

5. Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge – 17,702 meters

• Length in Meters: 17,702
• Year Opened: 1972
• Type: Highway

Located in St. Charles Parish, St. John the Baptist Parish, and Jefferson Parish, Louisiana, Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge is the fifth-longest bridge in the United States.

The bridge covers a length of 17,702 meters and a width of 14 meters.

Moreover, it is a trestle bridge that carries four lanes of I-10 and crosses over Bonnet Carré Spillway, Lake Pontchartrain, and LaBranche Wetlands.

The Louisiana DOTD has been responsible for its maintenance since its opening in 1972.

6. Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge – 13,300 meters

• Length in Meters: 13,300
• Year Opened: 2009
• Type: Highway

Louisiana Highway 1 Bridge is one of the longest toll bridges in the US and the world. It opened to the public in 2009 and carries LA 1, crossing above Bayou Lafourche and marshes.

The bridge is located in Lafourche Parish with a length of 13,300 meters. Toll rates vary per vehicle, ranging between $3.75 and $18.00.

7. Jubilee Parkway – 12,875 meters

• Length in Meters: 12,875
• Year Opened: 1978
• Type: Highway

Situated in Baldwin County and Mobile, Alabama, Jubilee Parkway is a viaduct bridge that opened in 1978.

The bridge uses girders as support and carries four lanes of I-10.

It crosses over Mobile Bay, spanning 12,875 meters or 7.5 miles. Moreover, it stands at a height of about 150 meters, making it among the tallest infrastructures in the city.

8. San Mateo–Hayward Bridge – 11,270 meters

• Length in Meters: 11,270
• Year Opened: 1967
• Type: Highway

The eighth-longest bridge in the US is the San Mateo–Hayward Bridge with a length of 11,270 meters and a width of 41 meters.

It was designed by Caltrans, Bay Toll Crossings Division, and constructed by Murphy Pacific Bridge Builders and Pomeroy-Gerwick-Steers.

Constructing the bridge in 1967 cost about $70,000,000. Its new westbound causeway bridge opened in 2002 and has now amassed daily traffic of 93,000 vehicles.

9. Seven Mile Bridge – 10,887 meters

• Length in Meters: 10,887
• Year Opened: 1982
• Type: Highway

Seven Mile Bridge is located in the Florida Keys in Monroe County, Florida. It bears two lanes of US 1, transiting over Moser Channel.

With a total length of 10,887 meters, it is the ninth-longest bridge in the country. The bridge has been a popular film spot, having been featured in several films such as 2 Fast 2 Furious and True Lies.

10. General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge – 9,786 meters

• Length in Meters: 9,786
• Year Opened: 1980
• Type: Highway

Nicknamed the Dolly Parton Bridge, General W.K. Wilson Jr. Bridge is the tenth-longest bridge located in Mobile County and Baldwin County in Alabama.

It spans a length of 9,786 meters, crossing over the Mobile-Tensaw River delta.

Construction began in 1978 and was completed in 1980, featuring four lanes of I-65. One of the most significant accidents that ever occurred on this bridge was the 2014 fire, caused by a truck accident.

11. Norfolk Southern Lake Pontchartrain Bridge – 9,300 meters

• Length in Meters: 9,300
• Year Opened: 1884
• Type: Rail

Norfolk Southern Lake Pontchartrain Bridge is situated in New Orleans, Louisiana, and is owned and maintained by Norfolk Southern railway.

Its construction finished in 1884 with a total length of about 9,300 meters.

The bridge crosses over Lake Pontchartrain and carries Norfolk Southern Railway Amtrak. It is a type of moveable bridge or rolling lift trunnion bridge, making it the longest railroad bridge in the country.

12. Chacahoula Swamp Bridge – 9,005 meters

• Length in Meters: 9,005
• Year Opened: 1995
• Type: Highway

Opened in 1995, the Chacahoula Swamp Bridge is a trestle bridge that crosses over Chacahoula Swamp.

It carries US Highway 90 with a length of 9,005 meters or 29,544 feet.

The bridge can be reached via Terrebonne Parish in southern Louisiana. The Louisiana Department of Transportation and Development (LA DOTD) maintains the bridge.

13. Frank Davis “Naturally N’Awlins” Memorial Bridge – 8,851 meters

• Length in Meters: 8,851
• Year Opened: 1962
• Type: Highway

Frank Davis “Naturally N’Awlins” Memorial Bridge is also known as the I-10 Twin Span Bridge which opened in 2009 on the eastbound and in 2010 on the westbound.

The overall bridge was completed in September 2011 and has a total length of 8,851 meters or 5.4 miles.

It has a width of 18 meters for each span, a total of six lanes of I-10. One of the most notable damages to the bridge was caused by the 2005 Hurricane Katrina, which resulted in missing parts and misalignments.

14. Richmond–San Rafael Bridge – 8,851 meters

• Length in Meters: 8,851
• Year Opened: 1956
• Type: Highway

Richmond–San Rafael Bridge crosses the San Francisco Bay and San Pablo Bay with a length of 8,851 meters.

It is also called the John F. McCarthy Memorial Bridge and is located in San Rafael and Richmond, California.

The bridge was named in honor of John F. McCarthy, a US merchant marine and a Republican. Overall, the bridge has a total of 77 spans and 70 piers in the water.

15. Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge – 8,369 meters

• Length in Meters: 8,369
• Year Opened: 2002
• Type: Highway

The 15th longest bridge in the US is the Virginia Dare Memorial Bridge located in Dare County in North Carolina.

It opened in 2002 and has an average daily traffic of 4,000.

The bridge was constructed with four lanes by Balfour Beatty Construction. It carries US 64 Byp. and crosses the Croatian Sound.

16. Mackinac Bridge – 8,038 meters

• Length in Meters: 8,038
• Year Opened: 1957
• Type: Highway

The Mackinac Bridge in St. Ignace and Mackinaw City, Michigan, is best known as Mighty Mac or Big Mac.

Big Mac is a suspension bridge designed by David B. Steinman and maintained by the Mackinac Bridge Authority.

The bridge covers four lanes of I-75 and GLCT and spans a total length of 8,038 meters, a width of 20.9 meters, a tower height of 168 meters, and a deck height of 61 meters.

It was completed in 1957 and has now daily traffic of 11,600.

17. LaBranche Wetlands Bridge – 7,902 meters

• Length in Meters: 7,902
• Year Opened: 1992
• Type: Highway

LaBranche Wetlands Bridge is another type of trestle bridge built in 1992. It carries four lanes of I-310, crossing over the LaBranche Wetlands.

With a total length of 7,902 meters or 25,925 feet, it is the 17th longest bridge in the country. It can be reached via St. Charles Parish in the state of Louisiana.

18. Maestri Bridge – 7,693 meters

• Length in Meters: 7,693
• Year Opened: 1928
• Type: Road

Situated in New Orleans and Slidell, Louisiana, Maestri Bridge has a total length of 7,693 meters or about 8 kilometers.

It is 11 meters wide and carries two lanes of US 11.

The bridge is the first to be built that serves as a crossing for Lake Pontchartrain. It opened to the public in 1928 and has been maintained by LA DOTD.

19. James River Bridge – 7,071 meters

• Length in Meters: 7,071
• Year Opened: 1983
• Type: Highway

From Isle of Wight County to Newport News, Virginia, lies the James River Bridge, spanning a length of 7,071 meters and a width of 20.8 meters.

It is a still lift bridge that carries four lanes of US 17, US 258, and SR 32 across the James River.

The bridge opened in 1982 and is maintained by Virginia DOT. On average, the bridge carries a daily traffic of 30,000 vehicles.

20. Huey P. Long Bridge – 7,009 meters

• Length in Meters: 7,009
• Year Opened: 1936
• Type: Rail

Huey P. Long Bridge officially opened in 1935 and underwent a widening construction in 2013. It is a six-lane bridge of US 90 with two tracks of the NOPB.

The total length is 7,009 meters, spanning the Mississippi River in Jefferson Parish, Louisiana. It is built as a cantilever truss bridge with average daily traffic of 43,000.

21. Chesapeake Bay Bridge – 6,946 meters

• Length in Meters: 6,946
• Year Opened: 1952
• Type: Highway

Chesapeake Bay Bridge or the Bay Bridge is a five-lane bridge for US 50 and US 301. It spans a length of 7 kilometers eastbound and 6.97 kilometers westbound.

It covers a width of 8.5 meters eastbound and 11.6 meters westbound. The bridge is a combination of a cantilever bridge, continuous truss bridge, and suspension bridge.

22. Sunshine Skyway Bridge – 6,598 meters

• Length in Meters: 6,598
• Year Opened: 1987
• Type: Highway

Across Tampa Bay is a cable-stayed bridge called Sunshine Skyway Bridge or simply known as the Skyway.

It covers four lanes of I-275 located in the south of St. Petersburg and north of Terra Ceia, Florida.

With 6,598 meters in total length, Sunshine Skyway Bridge is the 22nd longest bridge in the US. It has a width of 29 meters and a height of 131 meters.

23. St. George Island Bridge – 6,588 meters

• Length in Meters: 6,588
• Year Opened: 2004
• Type: Highway

Situated between Apalachicola and St. George Island, Franklin County, Florida, St. George Island Bridge spans a length of 6,588 meters or 4.1 miles.

It opened in 2004 with the official name Bryant Patton Memorial Bridge.

Initially, the bridge first opened in 1965 and served as a bridge going to St. George Island. The major intersection for this bridge is CR 300 and US 98.

24. Astoria–Megler Bridge – 6,545 meters

• Length in Meters: 6,545
• Year Opened: 1966
• Type: Highway

The Astoria–Megler Bridge is located in Astoria in Oregon and Pacific County in Washington. It carries two lanes of US 101, as well as bicycle and pedestrian lanes.

The bridge crosses the Columbia River with a total length of 6,545 meters and a width of 8.5 meters.

Overall, it has eight main spans, 33 approaches, and 171 piers in the water.

25. Hernando de Soto Bridge – 5,954 meters

• Length in Meters: 5,954
• Year Opened: 1973
• Type: Highway

Hernando de Soto Bridge carries six lanes of I-40 over the Mississippi River. It is located in

West Memphis in Arkansas and Memphis in Tennessee.

The type of design it encompasses is a tied-and-through arch made of a steel and concrete pier. One may know the bridge by several names including the M Bridge, Memphis Bridge, Mississippi Bridge, and New Bridge.

26. Mid-Bay Bridge – 5,793 meters

• Length in Meters: 5,793
• Year Opened: 1993
• Type: Highway

Mid-Bay Bridge is a 5,793-meter bridge located in Okaloosa County in Florida. It carries two lanes of SR 293 over the Choctawhatchee Bay.

Construction started in 1992 and was completed in 1993 which became an integral infrastructure going to the beaches from the mainland.

It is a toll bridge that costs between $3 to $4.

27. Pulaski Skyway – 5,636 meters

• Length in Meters: 5,636
• Year Opened: 1932
• Type: Highway

Pulaski Skyway carries four lanes of US 1/9 and Route 139. It covers several rivers including the Passaic River, Hackensack River, New Jersey Meadowlands, and Kearny Point.

The bridge has been featured in several media including The Last Three Miles, The War of the Worlds, and Hair.

In total, it has a length of 5,636 meters, a width of 168 meters, and 118 spans.

28. Albemarle Sound Bridge – 5,627 meters

• Length in Meters: 5,627
• Year Opened: 1990
• Type: Road

Built in 1990, the Albemarle Sound Bridge is a 5,627-meter bridge that serves as a connector between several towns in North Carolina.

It holds the State Highways 32, 37, and 94, crossing above the Albemarle Sound.

29. Dauphin Island Bridge – 5,430 meters

• Length in Meters: 5,430
• Year Opened: 1982
• Type: Road

Originally called the Gordon Persons Bridge, the Dauphin Island Bridge is a two-lane bridge of SR 193 that crosses over the Gulf Intracoastal Waterway.

It was originally completed in 1955 but was destroyed by Hurricane Frederic before opening again to the public in 1982.

The bridge spans a length of 5,430 meters or 17,814 feet and serves Dauphin Island in Alabama.

In honor of Seth Gordon Persons, the bridge was named after the former Alabama governor.

30. Yolo Causeway – 5,200 meters

• Length in Meters: 5,200
• Year Opened: 1916
• Type: Highway

The 30th longest bridge in the US is Yolo Causeway located in Yolo County in California. It carries six lanes of I-80, as well as bicycle and pedestrian lanes.

The bridge serves as a link between West Sacramento and Davis, spanning over the Yolo Bypass.

It has a total length of 5,200 meters, a width of 35.7 meters, 72 western segments, and 127 eastern segments.