Categories: Travel

Top 10 Highest Bridges in Asia

Every country always distinguishes itself with something specific. As for Asian people, they are extremely hard workers, and this is why they were able to build their countries in very few years after they nearly lost everything in the Second World War. Let us have a quick look at Asia in the 1910s and in the 2000s, and what a difference! In less than a century, things turned upside down. Japan turned from zero to the top of Asian tigers and our new models that top our own list, Malaysia and Singapore, are another story. Following the steps of Japan, they were able to double their GDP per capita 4 times in 50 years.

The kind of economic development that is only because of the Asians’ hard work has entirely changed the shape of the Asian countries. Clean streets, beautiful homes and new schools were built. In addition to that, what was once an American source of pride, namely, having the biggest, widest, and highest bridges; shifted to be Asia’s. Let us see where these highest bridges lie specifically in this large continent.

10 Marcelo Fernan Bridge

In Metro Cebu, Cebu in the Philippines lies the Marcelo Fernan Bridge that is a cable-stayed bridge and started to receive people in the year 1999. The bridge is more than 4055 feet (1237 meters) in length and crosses the Mactan Channel to connect Mandaue with Mactan Island.

9 Kizuna Bridge

Founded in Kampong Cham district, Cambodia in the year 2001, Kizuna Bridge is built over the Mekong River. It is now considered to be one of the longest bridges in Cambodia with a total length of 1500 meters. It plays a vital role in linking the western and eastern Cambodia which was extremely difficult before.

8 Candaba Viaduct Bridge

In the Philippines again, the Candaba Viaduct Bridge is considered as the longest bridge with a total length of 5000 meters. The bridge is 15 meters high, was inaugurated in 1976 and started to receive people the same year. It is built over Pampanga River and the Candaba Swamp, from which the name is derived.

7 Benjamin Sheares Bridge

Twenty meters high and 1800 meters long, the Benjamin Sheares Bridge is the longest and highest bridge in Singapore. The bridge was designed by CPG Consultants and started receiving passengers in the year 1981. The bridge got its name from the second president of the Republic who died four months before opening the bridge to the public.

6 Prai River Bridge

The Prai River in Malaysia was inaugurated in 2005 and won two awards for excellence in the following year. The bridge is 1850 meters long and 27.8 meters wide. It is praised as one of the best designs made for a bridge in Malaysia.

5 Malaysia-Singapore Second Link

Maintained by the Malaysian government, in 1998 the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link was opened and celebrated by both Singapore and Malaysia. The Malaysia-Singapore Second Link is 1920 meters long and it offers a very good solution to reduce the traffic congestion from both sides.

4 San Juanico Bridge

The Philippine bridge is 41 meters high and crosses San Juanico Strait to connect Samar and Leyte with 2200 meters. The San Juanico Bridge was inaugurated in 1973 and is dubbed the longest bridge in the country. In 2013, Typhoon Yolanda hit the bridge and it was slightly deteriorated but fortunately got repaired.

3 Rama VIII Bridge

In Bangkok, Thailand, the Rama VIII Bridge is 475 meters long and 160 meters high. It took three years to be built and was named after the country’s late King Rama VIII. The bridge is designed to carry both road traffic and pedestrians.

2 Thanlwin Bridge

With a total length of 7640 meters (4.75 miles) long, Thanlwin Bridge is the longest bridge in Burma as a whole. It is 28 feet wide and carries exclusively heavy objects. Because the bridge connects the city of Mottama with the city of Mawlamyaing, it is sometimes called the Mawlamyaing Bridge.

1 Penang Bridge

The number one on our list and the highest bridge in Asia lies in one of the countries that have recently become very powerful, Malaysia. The Penang Bridge is 13.5 kilometers long and was built to connect Perai and Gelugor together. After its inauguration in September 1985, it was dubbed the 2nd longest bridge in Malaysia and the 5th longest one in Asia.