While the USA and Canada do not have a monopoly on magnificent bridges, they certainly have their fair share. The following list suggests some significant bridges that you may wish to drive across and observe if you are in their area.
Some of these bridges have tolls. Some of these bridges have parking areas nearby from which they can be observed; a few also have visitor centres.
There is a magnificent steel girder bridge over the Columbia River near its mouth at Astoria. The bridge carries US101, the Pacific Coast Highway, between Oregon and Washington State. Toll. It was near here that the members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition spent the winter before commencing their return journey.
At milepost 63 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. There is a visitor centre, a restored canal lock and a picnic area. The top level of the bridge carries the Parkway, beneath which there is a pedestrian walkway which not only leads to the canal lock exhibit but which also affords excellent views of the river. No toll. Concrete bridge. Picture (14KB)
At milepost 305 of the Blue Ridge Parkway. The Linn Cove Viaduct was the final section of the Parkway to be completed. There is a Visitor Centre from which a short trail leads under part of the viaduct. No toll. Concrete viaduct.
Carries I-80 between Vallejo and the East Bay area. Crosses the waterway which connects San Pablo Bay and Suisun Bay. Toll. Suspension bridge.
The Chesapeake Bay Bridge-Tunnel connects the tip of the Delmarva peninsula with the town of Norfolk, Virginia. Lengthy causeway with an elevated section and two tunnels between pairs of artificial islands. Toll.
Alongside the Glen Canyon Dam. No toll. Steel arch bridge.
Examples along that part of Columbia River where it separates Washington State from Oregon include the steel girder bridge which carries US97 over the river east of The Dalles and the huge bridge at Astoria near the mouth of the river.
The recently opened Confederation Bridge connects Prince Edward Island to the mainland. Toll. Concrete bridge.
A number of preserved wooden covered bridges can be seen in New England.
The Golden Gate Bridge carries the Pacific Coast Highway (US101 and California State Road 1) across the gap between the two peninsulas which nearly enclose San Francisco Bay. Toll. Suspension bridge.
Mostly toll.
Links Michigan's Upper Peninsula and Ontario, Canada. Toll. Steel girder bridge.
Connects Michigan's Upper and Lower Peninsulas. Toll. Suspension bridge. Nicknamed the "Big Mac" bridge.
There are bridges at Natchez, Vicksburg and many other places on the Great River Road. Mostly no toll. Mostly steel girder bridges.
Near the northern terminus of the Natchez Trace Parkway, not far from Franklin, Tennessee. No toll. Concrete arch bridge.
At milepost 328 of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Nearby picnic area with viewpoint. No toll. Concrete bridge.
This may be on I-64 east of Beckley or perhaps on US19 north of Beckley. There is a parking lot and observation area a short distance from one end of the bridge. No toll. Steel arch bridge. Picture (25KB)
A number of bridges cross the Hudson and East Rivers and other waterways to connect the various boroughs of New York City, including the Brooklyn Bridge, the George Washington Bridge, and the Verrazano Narrows Bridge.
There are several bridges over the Niagara River in the Niagara Falls area.
Carries I-80 over San Francisco Bay and through Treasure Island. This is not exactly a beautiful bridge, but it is interesting. Toll. Steel girder bridge.
Example includes the bridge which carries I-77 over the Ohio at Marietta.
A steel girder bridge carries a railway high above the town of Parry Sound.
There is a parking lot at one end of the bridge from which pedestrians can walk across alongside the roadway. No toll. Steel arch bridge.
The Royal Gorge area is a tourist attraction, featuring not only the bridge but also a cable car and an incline railway. Entrance fee. Suspension bridge.
There are several bridges in the San Francisco Bay area. Mostly toll.
There are three floating bridges close to Seattle on Lake Washington. The New Lacey V. Murrow Floating Bridge replaced an earlier bridge which sank. Next to it is the Homer M. Hadley Floating Bridge. Picture (29KB)
The third and longest floating bridge close to Seattle is The Governor Albert D. Rosselini (Evergreen Point) Floating Bridge.
There is a fourth floating bridge in the Seattle area, namely the Hood Canal Floating Bridge across Puget Sound, northwest of Seattle.
The Tacoma Narrows Bridge is the replacement for the famous earlier suspension bridge which collapsed due to resonance. The replacement is also a suspension bridge.
Many thanks to Steven Arnold who supplied not only the detailed information for this entry but also the excellent photograph (29KB) of two of the floating bridges.
Of the many bridges and causeways of the Overseas Highway, the Seven Mile Bridge just west of Marathon is the longest. No toll. Causeway.
Connects the town of Twin Falls to I-84. No toll. Steel arch bridge.
There are a number of bridges across the St Lawrence River, both where it forms the border between Ontario and New York State and to a lesser extent in the Province of Quebec where the river is wider. Mostly toll.
Carries I-275 across the mouth of Tampa Bay. Toll. The previous twin steel girder bridges have now been replaced by a single cable-stayed bridge.
There are numerous examples of impressive highway bridges throughout the USA and Canada. One example of a road with numerous such bridges is the road from Asheville, North Carolina to Marietta, Ohio.
Numerous railway bridges can be seen from adjacent highways. Designs vary, and some of the older steel girder bridges look somewhat precarious. There are still a number of wooden trestle railroad bridges still in existence, but they tend to be small.
