Golden Bridge – Vietnam
The Golden Bridge opened in Vietnam in June 2018 and, with its unusual design, immediately gained international attention.
Located in the Bà Nà Hills of central Vietnam, Cau Vang, or the Golden Bridge, is a 490-foot-long pedestrian bridge and scenic overlook. The bridge, which sits 3,200 feet above sea level, opened in June 2018, and photos of the one-of-a-kind structure instantly went viral.
Not only is the bridge impressively located high above the trees (1,400m), but the walkway appears to be held up by two massive stone hands. The area around the bridge, formerly the site of an American army base, has been a tourist attraction for decades, replete with a cable car, gardens, replica French medieval village and wax museum. Now, thanks to this striking bridge, it’s become an even more popular spot.
Helix Bridge – Singapore
Shaped like a twisting strand of DNA, the Helix Bridge opened in 2010 as the world’s first curved bridge. The pedestrian-only bridge is designed with an illuminated walkway wrapped in four inners spirals (to represent the four bases of DNA) of glass and steel. Linking Marina Centre with Marina South, the bridge offers beautiful views of the Singapore skyline, Gardens by the Bay nature park and Marina Bay Sands mega-resort, particularly from its four viewing platforms.
Several times per year, artwork from local artists is displayed in an outdoor gallery.
Brooklyn Bridge – New York, USA
More than 120,00 vehicles, 4,000 pedestrians and 3,100 cyclists cross over the East River from Brooklyn to Manhattan via the Brooklyn Bridge every day, but when the bridge was completed in 1883, people were a little less sure about it. After a woman fell down a staircase on the bridge, the ensuing panic caused 12 people to be crushed to death. Later, a parade of 12 elephants was led across the bridge in a stunt designed to show people how safe it was.
One of the oldest suspension bridges in the U.S., the bridge is a National Historic Landmark, and one of New York’s most popular attractions. It’s appeared on screen in movies ranging from “Moonstruck” and “Sex and the City” to “Ghostbusters” and “Spiderman.”
Millau Viaduct – Tran Valley, France
The Millau Viaduct is the tallest bridge in the world with a structural height of 343 m (1,125 ft) and is part of the A75–A71 autoroute axis from Paris to Béziers and Montpellier. The cost of construction was approximately € 394 million. It was built over three years, formally inaugurated on 14 December 2004 and opened to traffic two days later on 16 December. The bridge has been consistently ranked as one of the great engineering achievements of all time, and received the 2006 Outstanding Structure Award from the International Association for Bridge and Structural Engineering.
The Charles Kuonen Bridge – Switzerland
A pedestrian suspension bridge longer than that above Randa is nowhere to be found. The longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world is almost 500 m long and traverses the Grabengufer of the Lärchberg on the Höüschbiel and is 85 m above the valley at its highest point. Access is free and requires a certain lack of fear, because walkers cross on a walkway with grating one can see through.
Sydney Harbour Bridge – Australia
Nickname “The Coathanger”, Sydney Harbour Bridge, along with the neighbouring Opera House, is one of the most iconic structures in Australia. It hosts an epic fireworks display annually, to bring in the New Year, televised around the world.
Rolling Bridge – London, U.K.
Designed as an experiment more than anything, the bridge is divided into eight linked sections and uses hydraulics built into the handrail to curl up and over until its ends meet, allowing boats to pass through below. To see it in action, visit London’s Grand Union Canal on a Friday at noon, when it rolls up like a Persian rug.
Ponte Vecchio – Florence, Italy
A bridge has existed here since at least 966 (!), though Ponte Vecchio in Florence has been devastated by flooding twice in its history. It’s not clear what year the present construction dates to, but it’s now one of Italy’s most recognisable bridges. There have been stores on the bridge for centuries too, but while they were once predominately butchers’ shops, they now sell jewellery and souvenirs.
Puente Nuevo – Ronda, Spain
Taking over 40 years to build, Puente Nuevo is the newest of a trio of bridges that stretch over the El Tajo gorge. Completed in 1793, it connects the city’s old and new towns. There’s a museum dedicated to the Puente Viejo – the original bridge that existed here and was reportedly used as a torture chamber and prison – and the best view can be found from below. Hop on the hourly tourist bus, which will take you via the bridge as well as many of the old town’s most famous streets.
Nescio Bridge -Amsterdam, the Netherlands
Completed in 2006, Amsterdam’s Nescio Bridge was so breathtaking in beauty and form that it won three major awards in a two-year span. Designed by the London-based WilkinsonEyre, the total length of the structure spans almost 2,600 feet, carrying pedestrians and cyclists over the Amsterdam–Rhine Canal.
