As the title suggests, in this article, we will be focusing on the highest mega bridges in the world today. Not the tallest - that has already been covered in our previous post on the Tallest Bridges.
This article is co-written with our invited member, Lavrentiv, of the RList.io community.
Outline
1. Tallest vs Highest - What's the Difference?
This section is a quick recap on the difference between "tall" and "high" covered in our Explainer On The Tallest Bridges In The World article. Feel free to skip ahead, if you have read this already.
Firstly, let us explain away the two main types of height measurements relating to a bridge. The structural height of a bridge is the maximum vertical distance between the uppermost point of a bridge to the lowermost exposed part of the bridge. The exposed portions can include towers or mast pylons that emerge from the ground or water surface.
The deck height is the maximum vertical distance between the deck of the bridge and the ground or water surface below the bridge span.
Structural height and deck height measurements for a bridge sited at sea level
In the image above, the lowermost endpoints for the deck height and structural height measurements are at almost the same heights. However, the uppermost endpoint for the structural height is the top of the tower while the uppermost endpoint for the deck height is the bridge deck.
Structural height and deck height measurements for a bridge sited on elevated terrain
The image above shows the acute difference between structural height and deck height. The lowermost endpoint for the structural height is the lowest point of the exposed structural arch along the slope, while the lowermost endpoint for the deck height is the ground or river surface directly below the bridge.
In other words, the tallest bridges are measured and ranked based on their structural heights, while the highest bridges are measured and ranked based on their deck heights. In this article, we cover the tallest bridges.
2. The Highest Bridges
Now that, we are clear about the difference between "high" and "tall" bridges. Let's dig a little in the dataset of the highest bridges in the world today. The dataset below covers more than 100 bridges with a deck height of at least 200 meters above the ground surface below the bridge.
Use this interactive table tool above to query and rank the 100+ highest bridges in the world by country as well as continent.
When it comes to highest bridges in the world with deck heights of at least 200 meters, Asia has an overwhelming percentage (more than 80%), with most of the bridges being located in China, the world's undisputed powerhouse in constructing bridges - the tallest, the highest and the longest.
3. Places with the highest bridges
Highest Bridge in Asia and in the World - Duge Bridge (China, 565m)
Duge Bridge is the highest bridge in the world.
Duge Bridge, or the Beipanjiang Bridge, is the world's highest bridge. A cable-stayed bridge ,it is built at a staggering deck height of 565 meters, overlooking the Beipan River. Opened in 2016, Duge bridge is located in Guizhou – Yunnan border, China, and is part of the G56 Hangrui Expressway between Qujing and Liupanshui. Its longest span stretches 720 meters.
Highest Bridge in North America - Baluarte Bridge (Mexico, 390m)
Baluarte Bridge of Mexico is the highest bridge in North America.
Baluarte Bridge, also known as the Baluarte Bicentennial Bridge, is a cable-stayed bridge that is built at a deck height of 390 meters, overlooking the Baluarte River. Opened in 2013, the bridge is located in Pueblo Nuevo , Durango, Mexico, and is part of the Federal Highway 40 linking the Atlantic and Pacific coasts of northern Mexico. Its longest span stretches 520 meters.
Compare Baluarte Bridge with Mike O'Callaghan - Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge from United States.
Highest cable-stayed bridges in the world
Highest Bridge in Europe - Millau Viaduct (France, 277m)
Millau Viaduct of France is the highest bridge in Europe.
Millau Viaduct is a cable-stayed bridge that spans across the gorge valley of the Tarn near Millau in Southern France. Opened in 2004, the bridge is built at a deck height of 277 meters and structural height of 336.4 meters, making it the tallest bridge in the world and highest bridge in Europe. Millau Viaduct carries 4 lanes of the A75 autoroute, overlooking the Tarn river. Its longest span stretches 342 meters.
4. Highest Road Bridges
Sidu River Bridge (China, 496m) - Second-Highest Road Bridge in the World
Sidu River Bridge - second highest road bridge in the world after Duge Bridge
Second only to the Duge Bridge in deck height and located in Yesanguan Township , Hubei, China, Sidu River Bridge is built at a height of 496m (deck height). Opened in 2009, the suspension bridge overlooks the Sidu River. Sidu River Bridge is built at a cost of 720 million yuan (about US$100 million) and its 1,222m-long span is part of the G50 Shanghai-Chongqing Expressway.
5. Highest Railway Bridges
Najiehe Railway Bridge (China, 310m) - Highest Railway Bridge in the World
Najiehe Railway Bridge - highest railway bridge and arch bridge in the world
Najiehe Railway Bridge is a steel arch bridge that is built at a deck height of 310 meters. Opened in 2016 in central Guizhou China, it is the world's highest railway bridge and is part of the Lindai-Zhijin Railway, overlooking the Wu River.
Chenab Bridge (India, 322m) - under construction
Chenab Bridge - arch closure
Located in Reasi district of Jammu and Kashmir, Chenab Bridge will be the world's highest railway bridge and arch bridge at a deck height of 322 meters (from river surface) upon its completion in December 2022,
More Bridge-related Resources
Longest Bridges Datasets
Danyang–Kunshan Grand Bridge (164.8km) and the longest bridges in Asia and the world
Lake Pontchartrain Causeway Bridge (38.62km) and the longest bridges in North America
Crimean Bridge (18.1km) and the longest bridges in Europe
Lima Metro Line 1 (33km) and the longest bridges in South America
Tallest Bridges Datasets
Millau viaduct (343m) and the tallest bridges in Europe
Pingtang bridge (332m) and the tallest bridges in Asia
Mezcala Bridge (236m) and the tallest bridges in North America
Highest Bridges Datasets
Difference between the "tallness" and "highness" of bridges
Duge Bridge (565m) and the highest bridges in Asia and the World
Millau Viaduct (277m) and the highest bridges in Europe
Baluarte Bridge (390m) and the highest bridges in North America
Highest road bridges in the world
Highest railway bridges in the world
Highest arch bridges in the world
Highest beam bridges in the world
Highest suspension bridges in the world
Highest cable-stayed bridges in the world
This article is co-written with our invited member, Lavrentiv, of the RList.io community.
Gerald Y.
Contributing writer @ RList. Gerald has an avid interest in all kinds of datasets relating to a diverse range of topics. In particular, he likes to present interesting nuggets of insights from datasets in a way that anyone can appreciate and consume easily.
