Discover the 4 Longest Bridges in Georgia

Georgia is the state known for having the best bridges in the entirety of the United States. Not only are the bridges memorable, but they are structurally sound. This is why some of the longest bridges in Georgia are so impressive.

If you want to learn about some of the unique bridges and the longest in each category of bridge, continue reading below.

4. Longest Swinging Bridge — Toccoa River Swinging Bridge

The Toccoa Swinging Bridge is impressive for many reasons. Not only is it the longest swinging bridge in Georgia, but anywhere east of the Mississippi River.

So how long is this bridge? It stretches across 270 feet. This is already impressive. However, it’s a bit of a terrifying walk, as with every step, the bridge swings and bounces.

The Toccoa River Swinging Bridge is in the Chattahoochee National Forest and is easily accessible to those who don’t mind a simple hike. The United States Forest Service worked alongside the Georgia Appalachian Trail Club to build the bridge in 1977. Over 40 years later, the bridge still holds strong and is plenty safe for people to walk across.

3. The Longest Wooden Bridge — Red Oak Creek Bridge

The Red Oak Creek Bridge is 391 feet long. It’s not only the longest covered bridge in the state, but it’s likely the oldest bridge still in use. It was built in the 1840s. A man named Horace King, a freed slave built the bridge with a webbing of planks that crossed at somewhere between 45- and 60-degree angles.

The bridge was further held up with 2,500 wooden pegs. Unfortunately, though King made many bridges with this design, the Red Oak Creek Bridge is one of the only remaining survivors.

Despite being built over 80 years ago, the bridge is sturdy. It is still strong enough to handle traffic. However, many people are pushing to shut down the bridge for thoroughfare as with every car that goes over it, more damage is done to the structure.

The bridge isn’t facing any danger of falling apart or injuring drivers. However, people want to protect the bridge for as long as possible and keep the history alive.

2. The Longest Cantilever Truss Bridge — Talmadge Memorial Bridge

The Talmadge Memorial Bridge is technically a cable-stayed bridge that was completed in 1990. It’s still used to this day, though there’s talk about making massive changes to the bridge.

However, the bridge has some history behind it. It was originally built in 1953 and was a cantilever truss bridge. Unfortunately, there were issues with the original. The main one was that it was far too low. There were many close calls and even a few collisions with larger boats.

The local government decided that a replacement needed to be made to prevent traffic from entering the area. That bridge was the current Talmadge Memorial Bridge. Unfortunately, the newer bridge faces a similar problem in 2023 and may need another renovation to raise the height.

1. The Longest Suspension Bridge — Sidney Lanier Bridge

A big jump from the other bridges on the list, the Sidney Lanier Bridge towers in first place. This is not only the longest suspension bridge in Georgia, but the longest bridge in the state, period. It is 7,780 feet long. It’s also fairly tall, up to 486 feet at the highest point.

The bridge was first built in 1956. It’s often compared to the Arthur Ravenel Jr. Bridge in South Carolina. Though the Ravenel Bridge is much longer, at 13,200 feet, it’s only a foot taller than the Sidney Lanier Bridge.

Additionally, the Sidney Lanier Bridge and the Talmadge Memorial Bridge, which is also often compared to the Ravenel Bridge, are both four-lane bridges between 1,100 and 1,300 feet wide. Meanwhile, the Ravenel Bridge is eight lanes and has a span of 1,546 feet.

The bridge got its name from a poet by the same name. They were in love with the area near where the bridge was to be built even writing a poem called the Marshes of Glynn about the marshes that the bridge now runs over.

The bridge is a large part of Georgia’s history. Every February, there is a 5K bridge run. During the run, the south side of the bridge is closed to everyone except pedestrians looking to run or walk across the bridge for the event.

Summary of the Longest Bridges in Georgia

The photo featured at the top of this post is © PaulDaniel5010/Shutterstock.com