From the iconic steel spans that frame city skylines to massive concrete causeways that seem to vanish straight into the horizon, America’s infrastructure is defined by its ability to conquer vast expanses of water and wetlands. While famous suspension bridges like the Golden Gate capture the public’s imagination, the true giants of American engineering are often the low-lying, multi-mile marvels designed to unite entire regions. This article counts down the longest bridges in the United States, immense structures like Louisiana’s record-breaking Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, exploring the incredible structural feats, historical milestones, and sheer scale of the mega-crossings that keep the nation moving.
Did you know that 4 of the top 5 longest bridges in the USA are found in the state of Louisiana? The following are the longest bridges in the USA:
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The top 5 longest bridges in the USA
1. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, Louisiana
The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway, or the Causeway, is considered to be the longest bridge in the United States and the longest bridge in the world over water (continuous). It consists of two parallel bridges crossing Lake Pontchartrain in southern Louisiana, United States. The length of the two bridges is 38.35 km long. There was some controversy with Guinness over the title of the longest bridge over water. For over 10 years, Lake Pontchartrain Causeway was listed in the book as being the longest bridge over water.
The original causeway construction began in 1955, and the first span opened to traffic in 1956. Due to the increasing traffic demands, the second parallel span was added, and it opened in 1969. The causeway was constructed using a series of precast concrete segments.
2. Manchac Swamp Bridge, Louisiana
The Manchac Swamp Bridge is a twin concrete trestle bridge in the US state of Louisiana. The 36.7km bridge is located around Lake Pontchartrain, a lake well known for its incredibly long bridges. Although the bridge is totally safe to drive on, Louisiana legend says that the bridge is haunted by a Cajun werewolf known as a “Rougarou” and a voodoo princess. However, despite these spooky tales, the only thing that drivers should be cautious of is not to get too close to the alligators that make a home on the waters under the bridge.
Construction of the bridge began in 1976 and was completed in 1979.
3. Atchafalaya Basin Bridge, Louisiana
Carrying Interstate 10, this is a couple of bridges stretching for more than 29km. Opened in 1973 it links Lafayette and Baton Rouge with its length. As the name suggests, this is constructed over the most significant wetland of the country, the Atchafalaya Basin.
The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge is a prestressed concrete bridge with a box-girder design. It is supported by numerous piers and foundations that are strategically placed throughout the basin. The bridge’s elevation allows for boat traffic to pass underneath, and it includes a navigation channel for larger vessels.
4. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, Virginia
It is officially known as the Lucius J. Kellam Jr. Bridge-Tunnel, this 37km long bridge, is a famous travelling destination, crossing the Chesapeake Bay. The northbound bridge opened in 1964 while the southbound in 1999. While the southern part of the bridge is close to Norfolk Botanical Garden, Atlantic Wildfowl Heritage Museum, and First Landing State Park, the northern part gives easy access to Eastern Shore National Wildlife Refuge and Kiptopeke State Park. Presently the bridge is under the supervision of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge and Tunnel Commission.
The bridge-tunnel consists of several sections, including two 1-mile (1.6-kilometre) long tunnels that go beneath the bay’s shipping channels and four artificial islands that serve as transition points between the bridges and tunnels.
5. Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge, Louisiana
The I-10 Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge is a 17.70 km-long twin trestle bridge in Louisiana, USA. The bridge carries Interstate I-10 over the Bonnet Carré Spillway – a flood control setup in the Lower Mississippi Valley, Lake Pontchartrain, and LaBranche Wetlands and a portion of St. John the Baptist Parishes. The I-10 Bonnet Carré Spillway Bridge was opened in 1972.
Other Upcoming Bridge Projects
The long-debated proposal to link New England and New York has seen a major revival with the Connecticut-Long Island Crossing, a massive engineering concept championed by the Connecticut-Long Island Initiative and real estate developer Stephen Shapiro. Estimated to cost roughly $50 billion (with some baseline estimates starting around $22 billion), the proposed 14- to 15-mile multi-modal corridor aims to directly connect Bridgeport, Connecticut, to the Sunken Meadow State Parkway on Long Island. Mirroring the hybrid design of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel, the plan features a 12-mile center bridge bookended by mile-long underwater tunnels at each shoreline to mitigate the environmental impact on the coastlines. While advocates argue the bridge would serve as a vital economic engine and dramatically bypass the notorious gridlock of Interstate 95 and New York City, critics raise steep concerns regarding its multi-billion-dollar price tag, funding viability, and potential disruption to the natural ecosystem of the Long Island Sound.
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