A suspension bridge is a type of bridge in which the deck is hung below suspension cables on vertical suspenders.
The main cables are suspended between towers and are finally connected to the anchorage or the bridge itself, and vertical suspenders carry the weight of the deck and the traffic load on it.
Suspension bridges are not only useful, but they can also be attractive and artistic. They can be a tourist attraction as well as a source of beautiful images for magazines and blogs.
Here are the longest suspension bridges in the United States.
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, New York
The Verrazano – Narrows Bridge is a two-lane suspension bridge in New York City, United States. It bridges Staten Island and Brooklyn. It also connects the Upper Bay with the larger Lower Bay.
The Verrazano – Narrows Bridge is the longest in the United States of America, and one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.
It has a length of 4,260 feet (1,298 metres). It was the longest suspension bridge from 1964 until the Humber Bridge in the United Kingdom took its place in 1981.
The Golden Gate, California
Who doesn’t know the Golden Gate in the United States? That very beautiful bridge!
The Golden Gate Bridge is often regarded as the longest suspension bridge in the United States. Most people think is the Golden Gate, while some believe it’s the Verrazano – Narrows Bridge.
Well, both bridges have just a little different in their length. The Verrazano – Narrows Bridge has a length of 4,260 feet, while the Golden Gate has a length of 4,200 feet.
As you can see, the difference is just 60 feet. So theoretically, the Golden Gate in California is the second-longest suspension bridge in the United States. But practically, you can say that both bridges are the same.
The construction of the Golden Gate began with funding from the Work Projects Administration in 1933, despite lots of challenges. This bridge’s construction took four years to be completed in 1937.
Mackinac Straits, Michigan
The Mackinac Bridge crosses the Straits of Mackinac in Michigan State, the United States. This long suspension bridge was launched in 1957.
The Mackinac Straits, Michigan has a length of 3800 feet, is the third-longest suspension bridge in the United States of America.
It’s also the longest suspension bridge between anchors in the Western Hemisphere, as well as one of the longest suspension bridges in the world.
George Washington Bridge, New Jersey
The George Washington Bridge is a double-decked suspension bridge in New Jersey, United States of America.
It has a length of 3,500 feet and is situated over the Hudson River in New York City.
It was launched in 1931. As of that time, it was the longest suspension bridge in the world.
RECOMMENDED – The Best Cities For American Job Seekers In 2024
The Tacoma Narrows II, Washington
Tacoma Narrows Bridge is another long suspension in the United States of America. This bridge is built in Washington, over the Tacoma River. It connects the Tacoma to the port of Jig on the western side.
This bridge was first constructed in 1940, but it was destroyed within a short time. The collapse was a result of heavy winds.
It was built again the second in 1948. The construction was completed in 1950. But that was only the westbound bridge.
The second one (eastbound) was completed in July 2007. It was built by Tacoma Narrows Constructors, a joint venture (JV) of Bechtel Infrastructure and Kiewit Pacific.
Also known as “The twin bridges”, the Tacoma Narrows II has 8 traffic lanes in total and is regularly maintained by the Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT).
World’s Longest Pedestrian Suspension Bridge
The “516 Arouca”, located in the Arouca Geopark of northern Portugal is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world. It was built in 2017 by the Institute for Research and Technological Development for Construction, Energy, Environment and Sustainability.
The 516 Arouca was built to attract tourists to the Arouca area.
The 516 Arouca was named so because it has a length of 516 metres. This long pedestrian suspension bridge is suspended 175 metres above the Paiva river and links two hills with granite cliff faces.
The 516 Arouca is Europe’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. Before its completion in 2017, Switzerland’s 494-metre Charles Kuonen Bridge used to be the longest in Europe.
Although, the Baglung Parbat Footbridge in Nepal also claimed to be the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. It has a length of 567 metres.
