This deeply philosophical statement out of the way, allow me to introduce you to the most fascinating and soaring examples in bridge architecture - the structures that can be considered a destination in themselves, not just a means to get from point A to point B.
1. Historic "La Pont Du Gard" Bridge
The name literally means "Bridge across the river", which only serves to prove that this is THE bridge among all bridges. Built sometime around 20 B.C. by the Roman Empire in the South of France, this is one of the most ancient, and possibly the most beautiful of all Roman-built aqueducts. Pont du Gard crosses the Gardon Valley and reaches 49 meters in height, measuring 280 meters in length.
Every huge block of stone (some of which weigh up to 6 tones) was carved to perfectly fit in its place, making this grandiose
From the most ancient, to the most futuristic -
2. Soaring Bridges of Santiago Calatrava
Santiago Calatrava is one the most sought-after bridge architects today. His works are dynamic, reflecting our modern age. They also possess the uplifting harmony of sweeping curves and intricate shapes. His Sundial Bridge at Turtle Bay is an interestingly shaped, somewhat futuristic bridge (which doubles as a sun-dial). It was recently built near Redding, California.
Calatrava also applied his soaring, spread-wings style to the footbridge at Milwaukee Art Museum:
Although nothing really comes close to the City of Arts and Sciences that he designed for Valencia, Spain - the culmination of his highly elegant style.
Salvador del Saz has an awesome set of photographs of the building and the bridge leading to it:
3. Double Spiral Bridge in Japan
The Kawazu-Nanadaru Loop Bridge consists of two spirals, each 1.1 km long, 80-meter in diameter - the only way for traffic to get down the mountainside into the valley, too steep for any other usual road-building solutions.
The busy Route 414 serves the weekend crowd from Tokyo, intent to
4. Nanpu Bridge with a spiral approach
Similar spiral skyway graces the approach to the Nanpu Bridge over the Huangpu River, located at the South Dock in Shanghai, China. Drivers are allowed to go only clockwise... no, just kidding.
The longest bridge in the world is officially Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in Louisiana, which is essentially just a stretch of highway. The following structure is a bit more interesting:
5. The Longest Bridge-Tunnel Combination: Oresund Bridge
This longest combined road and rail bridge in Europe connects Denmark and Sweden across the Oresund strait. The artificial island itself is 4 km long. Shortly after being built, there were fears that not enough people are going to use it, but as it turned out, Danes were buying less expensive houses in Sweden and commuting to work in Denmark, and the construction costs of close to 30.1 billion are expected to be
Also a bridge-tunnel combo, but smaller, is Merrimack/
6. The Bosphorus Bridge - connecting 2 continents
This grand-looking bridge spans the Bosphorus Strait in Istanbul, Turkey. Interestingly, it also has a twin: a similar bridge located just down the Strait.
7. The Hanging Bridge of Bilbao, Spain
Built in 19th century, in a year of 1893, it introduced truly revolutionary combination of 150-meter long
Another interesting bridge concept: a footbridge with counter-balancing weights:
The "bridge-to-nowhere" illusion, seen in Norway:
A few other interesting (and beautiful) bridges:
Stonebridge in Regensburg, Germany:
Freedom Bridge, Budapest, Hungary:
JK bridge across Paranoa Lake, in Brazil:
Newport Pell Bridge, Newport, Rhode Island:
Conwy Suspension Bridge in the medieval town of Conwy, North Wales:
The Tsing Ma Bridge, Hong Kong:
Strange bridge in Victoria, Canada: Johnson Street Bridge.
Spiral bridge-link between two buildings, over Floral Street in
And our traditional mystery bridge:
UPDATE: Colsh says: "The mystery bridge is the Skye bridge connecting the Isle of Skye to mainland Scotland. I believe at one time the most expensive toll bridge in the world (per kilometer)."
Futuristic Arctic Bridge
Underwater tubular super-structure, imagined in Russia way back in the 50s and described by Alexander Kazantzev in his sf novel.
Harrowing Hanging Bridges
For the most amount of thrills you can get for free in this world, try to drive across some of the following structures, if not on your car, then on your bike. This is what many locals often have to do, in absence of any other ways to get across.
Historic Hagwilget Bridge in British Columbia, Canada
The first foot bridge looked positively frightening:
The second bridge across the river had quite an interesting engineering approach:
(image from 1916 book "Bridge Engineering" by H.G. Tyrrell)
The second and third bridges are visible in this photo. It is also possible that both were true road bridges - imagine driving your car across that!
Vjose River Bridge Experience
Some of the hanging bridges can be quite daunting not only to set your feet on, but even to look at. Roberto Ferri sent us these pictures, taken in Southern Albania, ten miles north from the Greek border. Both bridges shown here require a bit of work and a prayer to get across:
Crossing the Hussaini Bridge in Pakistan. The mountains in the background are called the Passu Cathedral:
Finally, feast your eyes (and nerves) on -
The Worst Bridge in the World
