FX.co ★ World’s 7 tallest bridges

Duge Bridge (China)

The Duge Bridge holds the title of the world's highest bridge. Spanning the border between the Yunnan and Guizhou provinces, this structure rises 565 meters above the Beipan River. The construction of the Duge Bridge, which made extensive use of remote-controlled equipment, took three years. In 2016, the bridge was completed, boasting a length of 1,340 meters with a central span of 720 meters. The initial plan was for a lower bridge, but the surrounding mountainous landscape required adjustments. Furthermore, the surfaces of the gorge's slopes were fragile due to karst caves, which led engineers to increase the height of the structure. Now, this highest suspension bridge features four traffic lanes and is a crucial segment of the Zunyi-Liupanshui expressway.

Siduhe Bridge (China)

Taking the second spot in the ranking is the Siduhe Bridge in the Hubei province near the city of Yesanguan, which crosses the Sidu River valley. Opened to traffic in November 2009, the deck of the Siduhe suspension bridge has a height of 496 meters. Its distinctive design comes from the engineering firm Second Highway Consultants Co. Today, the bridge is part of the G50 expressway that links the megacities of Shanghai and Chongqing. The bridge's steel structure is supported by H-shaped yellow towers, with a total length of 1,222 meters and a main span of 900 meters. The roadway consists of six lanes, allowing for a significant ease of transportation across the wide mountain belt, simplifying communication within the Hubei province.

Puli Bridge (China)

Located near the city of Xuanwei in the southern province of Yunnan, the Puli Bridge is ranked third on the list. This impressive structure was put into service in August 2015 and stands 485 meters high. As part of the G56 expressway connecting Xuanwei and Liupanshui, the Puli Bridge towers over the Gesyan River. Travel time between the two cities has been reduced from four hours to just one. The overall length of this steel construction is 1040 meters with a main span of 628 meters and a roadway width of 24.5 meters. It features four lanes for traffic. The monumental bridge's cables are held by towers each 154 meters high. Notably, during its construction, a unique rocket traction method was utilized, which is used for building structures with long spans. This method allowed a pilot cable to be easily moved to the other side of the canyon.

Taku Bridge (China)

The Taku Bridge, ranking fourth among the world's highest bridges, is located above the Jinsha River (Yangtze River basin) in the Lijiang City District of Yunnan province. The deck of this structure rises 461 meters above the water level. Construction of the Taku Bridge began in 2016. In December 2020, the new bridge was opened to vehicular traffic. Currently, the Taku Bridge is part of the G4216 expressway, connecting Chengdu and Lijiang. The original plan envisaged a construction with a height of 512 meters and a length of 1,190 meters. However, due to the natural terrain, this project was changed, resulting in a shorter structure but with a larger main span of 1,386 meters long. High-strength steel was the primary construction material. The Taku Bridge spans 1,681 meters and is supported by two tower pillars. Thanks to this new bridge, transportation in this mountainous area has significantly improved.

Yachi Bridge (China)

The Yachi Bridge holds the fifth place in this ranking, as an automotive bridge over the Yachi River. It is located on the border of two city districts - Guiyan and Bijie in Guizhou Province. This structure's height is 434 meters. The Yachi Bridge is a vital part of the G76 expressway, connecting Xiamen and Chengdu. Its construction began in September 2013 and concluded in July 2016. The result is a new cable-stayed bridge with two pylons, measuring 1466.5 meters in length, 27.9 meters in width, with a main span of 800 meters and additional structures of 72 and 76 meters. The Yachi's supporting tower pillars, 243.2 meters and 258.2 meters high, are shaped like the letter 'H' and are located on the western and eastern banks of the river. A special truss structure provides stability to the road surface. The automotive bridge accommodates four lanes of traffic (two in each direction). This structure crosses the reservoir at the Dongfeng Dam, where the water level is higher than in the Yachi River.

Qinshuihe (China)

Ranked sixth among the world's highest bridges is the suspension structure Qinshuihe, located over the Qinshui River in Guizhou Province. The height of its deck is 406 meters. It took less than three years to construct Qinshuihe. In late December 2015, the magnificent bridge was opened to traffic. Experts consider Qinshuihe a unique engineering construction, built on a rocky karst surface. The total length of this suspension bridge is 2188 meters, using pylons 230 meters and 224 meters high for support. The main span is 1,130 meters long and consists of a steel truss that supports the deck and prevents it from stretching. The Qinshuihe Bridge is part of the Guiwen expressway, connecting Guiyan and Wen'an districts. Previously, locals had to cover a 160-kilometer distance between these settlements. Now, this journey is just 38 kilometers. The construction of this automotive bridge has satisfied the need for transportation in this mountainous region.

Hegigio Gorge (Papua New Guinea)

The Hegigio Gorge suspension pipeline bridge, located near the city of Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea, takes the 7th place on the list. The height of this bridge's deck is 393 meters. The structure was put into operation in November 2005. The Hegigio Gorge Bridge is primarily used for transporting oil from the Southeast Mananda field to the Southern Highlands Province. This unique construction was designed by engineer Ken Ross. High-strength steel is the main building material of the Hegigio Gorge. The length of the main span of the suspension pipeline is 470 meters. This structure is suspended by cables over the Hegigio Gorge. Before the construction of the Siduhe Bridge, it was considered the highest structure of its kind on the planet. Currently, the Hegigio Gorge is the world's highest oil pipeline bridge.