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For some people, a bridge is just a shortcut from one place to another. For others, a bridge is an opportunity to create a piece of functional artwork. These engineers meld art and engineering to create structures you won’t believe.
1. Millau Viaduct; Millau, France
This bridge is considered to be one of the greatest engineering achievements of all time and reaches a maximum height of 1,125 ft tall; which makes it taller than the Eiffel Tower.
via Millau Viaduct
via Millau Viaduct
2. Pedestrian Peace Bridge; Calgary, Alberta, Canada
This walkway opened in 2012 and was designed by Spanish architect, Santiago Calatrava; it crosses the Bow River.
via flickr / minniemouseaunt
via flickr / Dawn-Pink Chick
3. High Trestle Trail Bridge; Mardid, Iowa, United States of America
This bridge is part of a 25 mile trail that spans four counties in Iowa.
4. The Helix Bridge; Singapore
This bridge is designed after left-handed DNA and has pairs of red and green lights illuminating the letters c and g, as well as a and t on the bridge to represent the four bases of DNA.
via flickr / kathrin_mezger
via flickr / usiruk
5. Root Bridges of Cherrapunji; India
These bridges are not built, but grown from living roots across certain areas of India. This dual layered version is one of the most famous and impressive.
via flickr / rajkumar1220
6. Loopgraafbrug; Forte de Roovere, Netherlands
This bridge crosses a moat to Forte de Roovere. Designers from RO & AD Architects wanted to create something that stayed true to the point of the moat and designed this bridge so that it is not visible from a distance. Lining up with the water, it appears to cut the moat in half, hence its nickname, The Moses Bridge.
via RO&AD Architects
7. Storseisundet Bridge; Møre og Romsdal, Norway
Nicknamed the bridge to nowhere, this bridge seems to drop off entirely from certain angles.
via flickr / p_koelio
8. Zhivopisny Bridge; Moscow, Russia
This is the first cable stayed bridge in Russia and is also the highest one in Europe. The round disc at the top was meant to house a restaurant, but that idea was abandoned due to safety concerns.
via flickr / Andrey_Avtomonov
vie Wikimedia Commons / Eugeny1988
9. Infinity Bridge; Stockton-On-Tees, England, United Kingdom
Named for the reflection the bridge makes, this pedestrian bridge crosses the River Tees.
via flickr / Victoria Johnson Photography
via flickr / darrenprice187
10. Langkawi Sky Bridge; Pulau Langkawi, Malaysia
Closed since 2012 for repairs, this bridge finally reopened in February 2015. You have to take a gondola and stairs to get to the bridge, but the view is worth it.
via Langkawai Info
via flickr / The Dilly Lama
11. Royal Gorge Bridge; Cañon City Colorado, United States of America
America’s highest suspension bridge was built in 1929. Somehow, it survived almost entirely unscathed after a fire in 2013 destroyed almost 90% of the surrounding park area.
via Royal Gorge Bridge and Park
via flickr / tislb
12. Murinsel “Island in the Mur”; Graz, Austria
A man-made island combined with a bridge, this structure includes a cafe, amphitheater and a playground for kids.
via Graz Tourism
via flickr / zerok
13. Confederation Bridge; Prince Edward Island, Canada
This eight mile bridge spans across the Abegweit Passage portion of the Northumberland Straight and finally linked Prince Edward Island to mainland New Brunswick by road.
via Confederation Bridge
via Confederation Bridge
14. Chengyang Bridge; Chengyang, Sanjiang County, China
Also known as the Wind and Rain Bridge, this bridge was built in 1912 and has two platforms, three piers, three spans, five pavilions, 19 verandas and three floors.
via Hong Kong Cycle
15. Vasco da Gama Bridge; Lisbon, Portugal
This is the longest bridge in Europe at 11 miles long and is one of the longest in the world.
via flickr / jad99
16. Lupu Bridge; Shanghai, China
This six-lane, 12,795 ft bridge is the second longest steel arch bridge in the world.
via flickr / Jürgen Lison
17. Ponte Vecchio; Florence, Italy
This now unusual bridge has merchant shops built all across it. It seems strange now but once was commonplace in Italy.
via flickr / edwhitaker
via flickr / ccblaisdell
18. Bixby Creek Bridge; Big Sur, California, United States of America
This bridge was built in 1932 and came under budget at a cost of $199,861. It has now become one of the most photographed bridges along the Pacific Coast because of its unique look.
via flickr / shortlens
19. Siosepol Bridge; Isfahan, Iran
This bridge is also known as The Bridge of 33 Arches, and its named is derived from the Farsi number 33 – si-o-seh.
via flickr / kamshots
via flickr/ cim21
20. Ponte di Rialto; Venice, Italy
This stone arch pedestrian bridge was built in its current formation in 1588, though a bridge has existed in this spot since at least 1181.
via flickr / j.reed
via flickr / Roberto Taddeo
21. Landwasser Viaduct; Schmitten and Filisur, Switzerland
This single track limestone railway crossing was constructed between 1901 and 1902 for Rhaetian Railway, who still own the structure to this day.
