A breathtaking structure is coming up in China. It is the Huajiang Grand Canyon bridge, a bridge like the world has never seen. It will be the world’s tallest bridge and will hold vehicles at a height of 625 meters above the intimidating Beipan River.
Since construction began in 2022, the world has been eager to see the finished work. Now, the magnificent edifice is finally open for use. One reason for the project’s excitement is its extreme difficulty. It has taken a lot to bring this unbelievable dream to reality.
The Huajiang Grand Canyon bridge will be one of the most incredible construction masterpieces in the world. But it won’t be alone in its class. Several other bridges surpassed engineering limits and even defied gravity.
These structures, dating back to the 19th century, are a testament to human intelligence and the perpetual desire to brave the odds and do the impossible. Here are some of the most daring bridge projects the world has ever seen, from the first steel wire suspension bridge to this modern wonder in China.
The Brooklyn Bridge (USA 1883)
Humans have been doing the unthinkable in bridge construction since the 1800s. On May 24, 1883, the world first saw the brilliance of human invention in conquering great waters. That was when the Brooklyn Bridge, the world’s first steel-wire suspension bridge, was opened.
The bridge was an engineering wonder at the time, having bagged numerous firsts. Aside from being the first bridge of its size to use steel cables, it was the longest bridge in the world and remained so for the next two decades.
The 1,595-foot bridge in Brooklyn, New York, linked the city to Manhattan. It was longer than the height of the Empire State Building and about the length of five American football fields.
Another fascinating aspect of the bridge was how it was suspended with what is called the “cable-stayed and suspension technique” — a dream feat that had never been realized before. The bridge also used many imposing Gothic-style stone towers up to 275 feet high.
After its construction, the bridge, which was 127 feet above the sea and had two vehicular lanes and an elevated pedestrian walkway, was tagged the “Eighth Wonder of the World.”
Interestingly, the bridge was made a reality after the deaths of two people and the tenacity of a family. Its designer, John A. Roebling, a genius German-American civil engineer, died before construction began.
His son, Washington Roebling, who mounted the saddle after him, also died after a while due to caisson disease. Washington’s wife, Emily, oversaw the project until its completion. She was also the first person to cross the bridge.
The Brooklyn Bridge gave other civil engineers the courage to dream big and dare the odds. The bridge continues to stand triumphantly and is still in use today.
The Forth Bridge (Scotland, 1890)
This magnificent Scotland bridge was the first to replace iron as the primary bridge material. Here, steel showed the world its strength and competence in connecting cities over long distances.
Opened on March 4, 1890, the Forth Bridge broke out of the mold by adopting the cantilever system. This system of giant “arms” stretched out over the river, unlike the conventional, simple suspensions.
The cantilever principle ensured that the bridge had longer spans without the need for supports from the river depths. The arms stretched over on both sides and balanced each other out.
One arm was 1,710 feet, or 521 meters, away from the next. The bridge consumed about 53,000 tons of steel and required 4,600 men to build. This was a civil engineering breakthrough that has made this bridge the pride of Scotland to this day. UNESCO designated the structure a World Heritage Site in 2015.
Golden Gate Bridge (USA, 1937)
The Golden Gate Bridge in San Francisco, California, emerged as a beacon of hope during the Great Depression. Built under adverse conditions such as fog and rough waters, ferocious winds, and raging tides, the bridge symbolized the resilient American spirit.
The Golden Gate Bridge was the world’s longest suspension bridge. Opened on May 27, 1937, it stretched 1,280 metres or 4,200 feet. The bridge was visually appealing and admired for its highly artistic design.
As soon as it opened, about 200,000 people walked across it from one end to the other. It had towers as high as 746 feet and was 220 feet above the water. Another amazing feature of the bridge is its earthquake immunity. The builders saw major earthquakes ahead and designed the bridge to withstand them and aggressive winds.
Akashi Kaikyo Bridge (Japan, 1998)
Designated as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World by the American Society of Civil Engineers, the Akashi Kaikyo bridge isn’t your regular bridge. The 3,911 metre-long bridge remains the world’s longest central span of any suspension bridge.
Mostly made of steel, it was built to be earthquake—and typhoon-resistant. It has survived several natural disasters, but it was greatly tested by the Great Hanshin Earthquake of 1995 while under construction. The earthquake removed some of the bridges’ supports, leading the construction team to alter the initial design to a stronger one.
Russky Bridge (Russia, 2012)
If there is one bridge that defied the odds, it’s the Russky Bridge of Vladivostok. Russky is the bridge with the longest cable-stayed span in the world. Opened in July 2012, the bridge links Vladivostok to the Russky Island.
Its construction withstood the cold weather, strong winds, and angry sea currents. It was built to withstand earthquakes and typhoons. Its cable system consists of 168 pairs of cables held by steel strands. The construction cost a whopping $1 billion.
Canakkale 1915 Bridge (Turkey, 2022)
On March 18, 2022, Turkey was beaming with pride. The Canakkale 1915 Bridge, which was and still is the bridge with the world’s longest suspension span, was opened.
1915 was a memorable year in the nation’s history. On that day, Turkish forces repelled an enemy incursion during World War I. To celebrate the nation’s 100th anniversary, the bridge’s designers intentionally ensured that its main span was 2,023 meters.
Turkey was founded in 1923 and became 100 years old in 2023. The bridge was 4,608 metres long and 70 metres above the water. Construction began in March 2017 and took about 5 years.
The bridge is not just an engineering wonder but also attractive to behold, with its red and white colors, which are inspired by the Turkish flag. Considered one of the modern wonders of bridge technology, the structure has attracted tourists to date.
Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (China, 2018)
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge (HZMB) is the longest sea-crossing bridge-tunnel system. It consists of a bridge, a tunnel, and several roads, totalling 55 kilometres.
The bridge, which links three cities—Hong Kong, Macau, and Zhuhai—opened on October 24, 2018. The project’s sophistication has made it a wonder in the engineering world to date. The tunnel is an underwater tunnel spanning 6.7 kilometres and connecting artificial islands.
The bridge accommodates six lanes of vehicle traffic and was built to be earthquake—and typhoon-resistant. It costs $18 billion and is expected to last 120 years.
Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge (China 2025)
The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge is an engineering masterpiece currently under construction in China. It is located in the Guizhou province and is designed to connect regions and boost commercial activities.
To build this edifice, engineers had to brave the terrifying mountainous region of Guizhou. They had to use the world’s largest cable crane system to move heavy-duty steel pillars. The highly computerized nature of the construction work reduced the number of workers on site.
The bridge is expected to be fully completed anytime in the second half of the year. The project is another testament to China’s recent drive to lead the world in technology and innovation.
The structure will connect millions of people upon completion and boost economic transactions between large regions. The Huajiang Grand Canyon Bridge, a suspension bridge, will be 2,890 metres long. The journey across the canyon that should have taken more than an hour will now take just over a minute.
Surely, the world hasn’t seen the last of super-impressive engineering masterpieces. As countries continue to advance in technology and grow in ambition, more mind-blowing bridges will be unveiled.
