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 8,900 past and present suspension bridges (more than 2,200 of which are pictured).
Information and corrections can always be sent to david.denenberg@bridgemeister.com.
Search and Useful Lists
Lists By Other Geographical Divisions
Additional Lists
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Major Chronologic Eras
Undated Bridges
Additional Resources
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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. However, some notable 18th-century (or older) such bridges are included for context given how frequently these bridges are cited in other historic lists of suspension bridges.
- 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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