Discover the 9 Longest Over-Water Bridges on the Planet

Overwater bridges serve an important purpose in the world of transportation. These structures significantly cut down travel time by allowing passengers to cross bodies of water without ever leaving their cars.

Overwater bridges have been constructed for centuries, but today’s bridges are complex and span for miles. Let’s explore some of the longest overwater bridges on the planet and how they help travelers in various parts of the world.

1. Zhuhai-Macau Bridge

The Guinness World Record for longest bridge over water is split into two parts. While the Lake Pontchartrain Causeway holds the record for the longest continuous bridge over water, the Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is the longest aggregate bridge over water.

Located in Hong Kong, China, the Zhuhai-Macau Bridge spans 30.01 miles (aggregate length) over the Pearl River Delta.

Construction of the bridge took roughly seven years and cost approximately US $15.6 billion (¥ 110 billion). The bridge opened in 2018 and has since significantly reduced travel time between the cities of Zhuhai, Macau, and Hong Kong.

2. Lake Pontchartrain Causeway

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway in southeastern Louisiana holds the Guinness World Record for the longest continuous overwater bridge in the world.

New Orleans experienced significant growth in the 1940s and 1950s, according to the American Society of Civil Engineers. Unfortunately, accessing the city proved somewhat difficult thanks to Lake Pontchartrain. This led to an interest in creating a bridge connecting the center of the lake to the north shore.

The Lake Pontchartrain Causeway was officially completed in 1965. The bridge stretches 23.8 scenic miles, offering spectacular views of the lake along the way. It also features a unique aspect of safety. The Causeway Police, Motor Assistance Patrol operators, and dispatchers are on duty around the clock, according to the bridge’s website.

3. Manchac Swamp Bridge

Interestingly, multiple lengthy bridges on this list are located in Louisiana. The Manchac Swamp Bridge is the third-longest overwater bridge in the world. It stretches 22.8 miles over the Manchac swamp — a supposedly haunted body of water in Ponchatoula, according to Atlas Obscura.

The Manchac Swamp Bridge opened in 1979 to help with road traffic. The swamp itself is supposedly haunted by a Rougarou (Cajun werewolf) and a voodoo princess.

Legend states that the princess placed a curse on the surrounding areas. On the day of her funeral in 1915, the town was hit by a hurricane. Despite the legend, the Manchac Swamp Bridge is a perfectly safe way to cross the swamp.

4. Donghai Bridge

Donghai Bridge spans 20.2 miles, connecting mainland Shanghai’s Pudong New Area to the offshore Yangshan Island. The six-lane bridge opened to the public in 2005. It stretches over the East China Sea and is actually China’s first sea-crossing bridge, according to Top China Travel.

For a brief time, the Donghai Bridge held the title of “longest trans-oceanic bridge in the world.” Though it has since been surpassed, the bridge is still an impressive feat of engineering and has significantly improved traffic in Shanghai.

5. Temburong Bridge

The Temburong Bridge (also known as the Sultan Haji Omar Ali Saifuddien Bridge) is located in the small country of Brunei in Southeast Asia. The bridge stretches 19 miles over Brunei Bay, connecting the country’s mainland with the Temburong District.

Temburong is an exclave, meaning that it is separated from the rest of Brunei by Brunei Bay and part of Malaysia. The bridge opened to the public in 2020 and significantly cut down travel time from Temburong to the mainland.

Previously, travelers had to pass through multiple immigration checkpoints, as the only road took them through a different country. In 2022 the bridge opened to foreign vehicles, according to The Borneo Post. However, there is a weight restriction, and vehicles over 3,500kg must take a different highway.

6. Atchafalaya Basin Bridge

The Atchafalaya Basin Bridge (also known as the Louisiana Airborne Memorial Bridge), includes two parallel bridges that carry passengers over the Atchafalaya Basin. The bridges connect the Louisiana cities of Baton Rouge and Lafayette.

Construction on the Atchafalaya Basin Bridge began in 1971 and the bridge officially opened in 1973. According to 99.9 KTDY, the concrete structure stretches into 95 feet of swamp mud before resting on sandy sediment strong enough to hold the expressway. The twin bridges connect twice — once when crossing the Whiskey Bay Pilot Channel and again over the Atchafalaya River.

7. Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge Tunnel connects the Virginia mainland at Virginia Beach to Virginia’s Eastern Shore. This award-winning feat of engineering stretches 17.6 miles across the mouth of the Chesapeake Bay.

According to its official website, the Bridge Tunnel first opened to traffic in 1964 after 42 months of construction. In 1999, Phase I of the Parallel Crossing expanded the two-lane facility into four lanes.

The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel isn’t just a way to cross a body of water. The CBBT also offers a scenic overlook on the west side of the roadway at the southern point of Virginia’s Eastern Shore.

Here visitors can park to stretch their legs, catch a sunrise or sunset, and use the rest area’s viewing machines to take in all of Chesapeake Bay. The scenic overlook is also a great spot for avid birdwatchers, as its location over the open water attracts a number of birds and waterfowl.

8. Jiaozhou Bay Bridge

The Jiaozhous Bay Bridge carries motor vehicles over Jiaozhou Bay. It stretches 16.6 miles, significantly reducing travel time between Quingdao and Huangdao, China, according to the United States Geological Survey.

The Jiaozhouz Bay Bridge is a remarkable feat. Supported by over 5,000 concrete piles, this bridge is one of the largest of its kind.

The bridge opened in 2011 and briefly held the Guinness World Record for the longest bridge over water (aggregate length). It was eventually surpassed by the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge after its completion in 2018.

9. Jintang Bridge

Jintang Bridge is among the longest sea bridges in the world, allowing people to cross the Hangzhou Bay. It is a highway bridge that connects Jintang Island and Zhenhai, Ningbo in China. Jintang Bridge opened in 2009 and stretches a total of 16.5 miles in length.

However, it’s worth noting that only around 11.4 miles of this bridge lie above water, according to reduper.com. Still, it is an impressive structure. The longest portion is a cable-stayed bridge with massive opposing towers.

Summary of the 9 Longest Over-Water Bridges on the Planet