The 16 Scariest Bridges in America

Year Completed: 1976

The Construction: Connecting Skagway to the Yukon highway system in Alaska, the 110-foot long bridge was built to accommodate traffic over the Moore Creek Gorge. Inevitably, years of supporting the weight of heavy traffic and ore-bearing trucks caused bends in the road, leading to a restoration that began in 2017.

The Fear: The scariest thing about this bridge isn't the length or height. It's not even haunted - as far as anyone knows. However, it is built over an active earthquake fault line. Although one side of the bridge is secured in hopes of preventing it from being torn in half in such an event, it's not altogether comforting.

Year Completed: 1956

The Construction: The 24-mile bridge connecting the north and south shores of Lake Pontchartrain in the New Orleans area is the longest highway bridge over water in the world. Employing the use of assembly line and mass production methods, it went up in just 14 months. A second span was added in 1969, running parallel to the original, and collectively carrying more than 30,000 cars per day.

The Fear: Stretching endlessly across the open waters of Lake Pontchartrain, the length of this bridge alone is fear-inducing. At its central point, there's no land in sight, which is especially eerie when that thick Louisiana fog rolls in. Some of the most anxious drivers utilize one the bridge's seven crossover sections to call a patrol escort to guide them across the bridge safely.  

Year Completed: 1929

The Construction: Suspended high over the Rocky Mountains, Colorado's Royal Gorge Bridge took just seven months to build. Employing 80 men at 50 cents per hour, the 1,260-foot long bridge cost $350,000 to erect in 1929 (not bad for such a feat of engineering). After a wildfire ravaged the area in 2013, the bridge closed for repairs, reopening around a year later. 

The Fear: Hailed as the tallest suspension bridge in the US, it's a 956-foot drop to the Arkansas River below. While most travelers are scared to even look into the rocky abyss, some daredevils get a thrill out of bungee jumping over the side!

Year Completed: 1957

The Construction: Connecting the Upper and Lower Peninsulas in Michigan, the Mackinac Bridge - nicknamed “Mighty Mac” - is the longest suspension bridge in the Western Hemisphere. The 5-mile long structure took nearly three years to build, cost more than $100 million, and used 42,000 miles of steel wire to form its main cables. 

Prior to its erection, the only way motorists could travel from one peninsula to the other was via an hourlong ferry ride, making it hard to imagine Michigan without Mighty Mac today.

The Fear: For a $10 fee, anxious drivers can get an escort from the Mackinac Bridge Authority. With high winds known to exceed 30 mph, and icy conditions during the cold Michigan winters, it's not a bad idea.

Year Completed: 1952

The Construction: Before the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, the only way to get from mainland Maryland to the Eastern Shore was by ferry. Though talks of building a bridge began as early as the 1880s, the project didn't come to fruition until after WWII. Construction took 3.5 years, reaching completion in 1952. At the time, the 4.3-mile bridge was the world's longest steel structure to cross a body of water. It was later paralleled by a second span, which opened in 1973.

The Fear: The bridge stretches over the Chesapeake Bay, with open water on both sides. The highest point hangs 186 feet above water, so it can be a stressful drive for those who fear heights. In 2013, a woman's car careened over the side of the bridge after being hit by an 18-wheeler truck. Miraculously, she survived, but others have not been so lucky. 

Year Completed: 1965

The Construction: While tourists may sometimes mistake it for the renowned Brooklyn Bridge, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge stands on its own two suspension towers. Named after Giovanni da Verrazzano, the first European explorer to sail the New York Harbor, it's the longest suspension bridge in the US. 

Connecting the Staten Island and Brooklyn boroughs of New York City, its 4,260 feet of steel and concrete took almost five years to construct. Although more than 10,000 workers built the bridge, not a single one was invited to the opening ceremony in 1965.

The Fear: Elevated 228 feet above water, driving the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge is not for the faint of heart. It's even more frightening in windy conditions. A video clip posted by Unilad in 2022 shows the bridge spookily swaying and groaning during high winds.