Many modern bridges are awe-inspiring, but the amount of money needed to build them can also be jaw-dropping. Here is a list of the 7 most expensive bridges ever built.
7. USA – George Washington Bridge, $1.1 Billion
Spanning the Hudson River, the George Washington Bridge was built to ease congestion in New York City. The bridge links Washington Heights in Manhattan to New Jersey.
6. USA – Oakland Bay Bridge, $1.3 Billion
Completed as long ago as 1936, the Oakland Bay Bridge is recognisable throughout the world. Taking only 3 years and 7 months to build, and stretching over the San Francisco Bay, the bridge connects Californian cities Oakland and San Francisco.
5. China – Tsing Ma Bridge, China, $1.35 billion
Hong Kong’s Tsing Yi and Ma Wan islands are connected by this bridge, which has a length of 1.37km. Construction on the Tsing Ma Bridge finished in 1997, when it became the world’s second longest bridge, though now it just sneaks into the top ten in terms of length.
4. South Korea – Yeongjong Grand Bridge, $1.9 Billion
Asia’s most costly bridge, the Yeongjong Grand Bridge links Yeongjong to South Korea’s mainland. The bridge is 4.42kms long, while the public was first allowed access to it in 2000.
3. USA – Verrazano-Narrows Bridge, $2.4 Billion
The Verrazano-Narrows Bridge in New York City, at 2.6 miles long, is the longest bridge anywhere to be found on the American continent. The bridge was opened to the public in 1964 and was built to connect Brooklyn and Staten Island.
2. Denmark – Great Belt Fixed Link, $4.4 Billion
The most expensive bridge ever built in Europe, the Great Belt Fixed Link connects two Danish islands, Zealand and Funen. Taking more than a decade to construct, the bridge spans 6.75kms and was eventually opened in 1997. Only Asia boasts bridges longer than the Great Belt Fixed Link.
1. USA – Eastern Replacement Span, Oakland Bay Bridge, $6.4 Billion
Not even a whole bridge as such, the eastern part of the iconic Oakland Bay Bridge in San Francisco had deteriorated to such an extent that it had to be replaced rather than repaired. The cost – a massive $6.4 billion. Though the bridge has been handling traffic since near the end of 2013, it won’t be fully completed until 2016.