Historical Inventory of Suspension Bridges

The historical inventory of suspension bridges is an effort to assemble a list of every suspended deck suspension bridge ever built focusing on the chronological order of completion. Cable-stayed and simple suspension bridges are generally omitted. The inventory documents more than 8,250 past and present suspension bridges (more than 2,100 of which are pictured). Information and corrections can always be sent to david.denenberg@bridgemeister.com.

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Lists By Other Geographical Divisions
Additional Lists
Major Chronologic Eras
Undated Bridges
Additional Resources

Criteria

More details on the criteria for inclusion in the historical suspension bridge inventory follow.
  • Cable-stayed bridges are omitted. If a bridge has catenary or parabolic cables aided by stays, the bridge is usually included in the inventory as long it is clear the stays are not the primary means of support.
  • Catwalk, gangway, ribbon, sagging, drooping, and other simple suspension bridges (where the deck sags along the curve of the cables or rests directly on the cables) are generally omitted. The reason for this exclusion is really just to keep the scope of the inventory manageable.
  • Dredge bridges built on James Dredge's taper principle are included in the inventory despite evidence that these bridges behave more like cantilever bridges than suspension bridges.
  • Gisclard bridges (such as Ponts Cassagne and Bourret) built on Albert Gisclard's system are excluded from the inventory.
  • Ordish bridges (such as Singapore's Cavenagh Bridge and London's Albert Bridge) built on Rowland Ordish's system are excluded from the inventory.
  • There are many suspension bridges pictured on Bridgemeister that are not listed in the inventory. You can browse these excluded bridges here: Excluded Suspension Bridges

Conventions for Unnamed Bridges

Within the inventory the following conventions are used for unnamed bridges:

Additional Notes

Additional notes you may find useful for interpreting the bridge details:
  • Estimated span lengths are provided for many bridges. Most estimates are made using the measurement tools found within Google Maps and Google Earth.
  • In many countries, those bridges with usage "Footbridge" are commonly used by bicycles and motorbikes (lightweight motorcycles) in addition to pedestrians. This is rarely clearly delineated within the inventory.

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