Timeline of three longest supported deck arch bridge spans

This is the timeline of the 3 longest supported deck arch bridge spans in the world, where the road deck lies on top of the arch. The deck is supported by columns, truss, rubble or lies directly on the arch. These bridges are often found in narrow valleys.

Because of the difficulty in telling an arch bridge apart from a bent beam bridge or certain cantilever bridges, all bridges that look like supported deck arch bridges are included in this timeline. The whole arch should be aesthetically visible uninterrupted by other structures such as the deck. ''Suspended'' deck arch bridges are excluded. The lower deck of the Eads Bridge is suspended a bit, but not below the underside of the arch, and the upper deck is completely above of the arch, so Eads is included. The lower deck of Dom Luís Bridge, Porto is suspended as far as is possible, making it also a suspended bridge, so it is excluded.

There are some truss bridges like Permanent Bridge where the deck passes ''through'' the arch. Since the deck does not lie ''on top'' of the load-bearing arch, but is suspended a bit measured from the top of the arch, those types are excluded. Eads Bridge was not excluded because the existence of such a lower deck does not change the appearance of the bridge much with respect of the arch.

In this timeline, only spans that were still standing a particular year are considered for that year. This is perhaps more fair than a timeline of the records of all time, because the old figures might be incorrect. At the points when the old spans falls, new spans with more certain figures are allowed to appear in the timeline. This is the historic top 3 lists of standing longest spans ''per day''.

When several bridges of the same length exists, the oldest is counted as the longest.

''Note: Some information in this timeline have uncertainty, especially before 1874.''

Longest Spans 1796 - present

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id:Krk-Paint Value:tan2
id:Zdakov-Paint Value:teal
id:Cold-Paint Value:pink
id:Iron-Paint Value:yelloworange
id:Glen-Paint Value:skyblue
id:Sandö-Paint Value:oceanblue
id:Rainbow-Paint Value:lavender
id:Henry-Paint Value:green
id:Western-Paint Value:lightpurple
id:Permanent-Paint Value:red
id:Whirlpool-Paint Value:gray(0.9)
id:Müngsten-Paint Value:coral
id:Garabit-Paint Value:drabgreen
id:MariaPia-Paint Value:rgb(0.77,0.08,0.24)
id:Eads-Paint Value:brightgreen
id:Southwark-Paint Value:lightorange
id:Wearmouth-Paint Value:yellowgreen
id:VB-Paint Value:orange
id:PontGrand-Paint Value:yellow
# id:Bamberg-Paint Value:tan2

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text:Third Longest

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from:1977 till:2009 color:Gold1 text:" 518m New River Gorge Bridge, West Virginia"
from:1967 till:1977 color:Zdakov-Paint text:"362m Žďákov Bridge, Czech Republic"
from:1963 till:1967 color:Cold-Paint text:" 350m Cold Spring Bridge, California"
from:1960 till:1963 color:Iron-Paint text:" 335m Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, Canada"
from:1959 till:1960 color:Glen-Paint text:" 313m Glen Canyon Bridge, Arizona - Utah"
from:1941 till:1959 color:Rainbow-Paint text:" 289m Rainbow Bridge, USA - Canada"
from:1938 till:1941 color:Henry-Paint text:" 256m Henry Hudson Bridge, New York"
from:1898 till:1938 color:Gold2 text:" 256m Upper Steel Arch Bridge, USA - Canada"
from:1894 till:1898 color:Müngsten-Paint text:" 170m Müngsten Bridge, Germany"
from:1885 till:1894 color:Garabit-Paint text:" 165m Garabit viaduct, France"
from:1877 till:1885 color:MariaPia-Paint text:" 160m Ponte Maria Pia, Portugal"
from:1874 till:1877 color:Eads-Paint text:" 158m Eads Bridge, Illinois"
from:1860 till:1874 color:Southwark-Paint text:" 73m Southwark Bridge, UK"
from:1848 till:1860 color:Gold1 text:"76m Cascade Bridge, New York"
from:1819 till:1848 color:Southwark-Paint text:" 73m Southwark Bridge, UK"
# from:1813 till:1838 color:Gold2 text:" 103m Colossus Bridge, Pennsylvania"
from:1796 till:1819 color:Wearmouth-Paint text:" 72m Wearmouth Bridge, UK"

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bar:Silver align:center shift:(0,0) mark:(line,white)
from:1997 till:2009 color:Silver1 text:" 429m Wanxian Bridge, China"
from:1980 till:1997 color:Krk-Paint text:" 390m Krk Bridge, Croatia"
from:1977 till:1980 color:Zdakov-Paint text:"362m Žďákov Bridge, Czech Republic"
from:1967 till:1977 color:Cold-Paint text:" 350m Cold Spring Bridge, California"
from:1963 till:1967 color:Iron-Paint text:" 335m Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, Canada"
from:1960 till:1963 color:Glen-Paint text:" 313m Glen Canyon Bridge, Arizona - Utah"
from:1959 till:1960 color:Rainbow-Paint text:" 289m Rainbow Bridge, USA - Canada"
from:1943 till:1959 color:Sandö-Paint text:" 264m Sandö Bridge, Sweden"
from:1941 till:1943 color:Henry-Paint text:" 256m Henry Hudson Bridge, New York"
from:1938 till:1941 color:Viaur-Paint text:"220m Viaur Viaduct, France"
from:1936 till:1938 color:Henry-Paint text:" 256m Henry Hudson Bridge, New York"
from:1902 till:1936 color:Viaur-Paint text:"220m Viaur Viaduct, France"
from:1898 till:1902 color:Müngsten-Paint text:" 170m Müngsten Bridge, Germany"
from:1897 till:1898 color:Whirlpool-Paint text:" 167m Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, USA - Canada"
from:1894 till:1897 color:Garabit-Paint text:" 165m Garabit viaduct, France"
from:1885 till:1894 color:MariaPia-Paint text:" 160m Ponte Maria Pia, Portugal"
from:1877 till:1885 color:Eads-Paint text:" 158m Eads Bridge, Illinois"
from:1874 till:1877 color:Eads-Paint text:" 152m Eads Bridge, other span"
from:1860 till:1874 color:Wearmouth-Paint text:" 72m Wearmouth Bridge, UK"
from:1848 till:1860 color:Southwark-Paint text:" 73m Southwark Bridge, UK"
from:1819 till:1848 color:Wearmouth-Paint text:" 72m Wearmouth Bridge, UK"
from:1809 till:1819 color:Silver2 text:"63m Bamberg Bridge, Germany"
# from:1805 till:1809 color:Permanent-Paint text:"56m Permanent Bridge, Pennsylvania"
from:1796 till:1809 color:VB-Paint text:" 54m Pont de Vieille-Brioude, France"

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from:1997 till:2009 color:Krk-Paint text:" 390m Krk Bridge, Croatia"
from:1980 till:1997 color:Zdakov-Paint text:"362m Žďákov Bridge, Czech Republic"
from:1977 till:1980 color:Cold-Paint text:" 350m Cold Spring Bridge, California"
from:1967 till:1977 color:Iron-Paint text:" 335m Ironworkers Memorial Bridge, Canada"
from:1963 till:1967 color:Glen-Paint text:" 313m Glen Canyon Bridge, Arizona - Utah"
from:1962 till:1963 color:Bronze1 text:" 305m Lewiston-Queenston Bridge, USA - Canada"
from:1960 till:1962 color:Rainbow-Paint text:" 289m Rainbow Bridge, USA - Canada"
# from:1960 till:1962 color:Bronze1 text:" 278m Almö Bridge, Sweden"
from:1959 till:1960 color:Sandö-Paint text:" 264m Sandö Bridge, Sweden"
from:1943 till:1959 color:Henry-Paint text:" 256m Henry Hudson Bridge, New York"
from:1941 till:1943 color:Viaur-Paint text:"220m Viaur Viaduct, France"
from:1938 till:1941 color:Western-Paint text:" 204m Western Bridge, Sweden"
from:1936 till:1938 color:Viaur-Paint text:"220m Viaur Viaduct, France"
from:1935 till:1936 color:Western-Paint text:" 204m Western Bridge, Sweden"
# from:1930 till:1935 color:Bronze2 text:" 188m Plougastel Bridge, France"
# from:1929 till:1930 color:Bronze1 text:" 187m Old Navajo Bridge, Arizona"
from:1925 till:1935 color:Bronze2 text:" 195m Michigan Central Railway Bridge, USA - Canada"
from:1902 till:1925 color:Müngsten-Paint text:" 170m Müngsten Bridge, Germany"
from:1898 till:1902 color:Whirlpool-Paint text:" 167m Whirlpool Rapids Bridge, USA - Canada"
from:1897 till:1898 color:Garabit-Paint text:" 165m Garabit viaduct, France"
from:1894 till:1897 color:MariaPia-Paint text:" 160m Ponte Maria Pia, Portugal"
from:1888 till:1894 color:Bronze1 text:" 160m Washington Bridge, New York"
from:1885 till:1888 color:Eads-Paint text:" 158m Eads Bridge, Illinois"
# from:1882 till:1885 color:Bronze1 text:" 115m Schwarzwasser Bridge, Germany"
from:1877 till:1885 color:Eads-Paint text:" 152m Eads Bridge, other span
from:1874 till:1877 color:Eads-Paint text:" 152m Eads Bridge, other span"
# from:1879 till:1882 color:Bronze1 text:" 66m Wettstein Bridge, Switzerland"
# from:1869 till:1874 color:Bronze2 text:" 60m Blackfriars Bridge, UK"
# from:1864 till:1874 color:Bronze2 text:" 60m Albert Edward Bridge, UK"
from:1864 till:1874 color:Bronze2 text:" 67m Union Arch Bridge, USA"
from:1860 till:1864 color:Southwark-Paint text:" 64m Southwark Bridge, other span"
from:1859 till:1860 color:Wearmouth-Paint text:" 72m Wearmouth Bridge, UK"
from:1857 till:1859 color:Southwark-Paint text:" 64m Southwark Bridge, other span"
from:1848 till:1857 color:Wearmouth-Paint text:" 72m Wearmouth Bridge, UK"
from:1819 till:1848 color:Southwark-Paint text:" 64m Southwark Bridge, other span"
# from:1809 till:1813 color:Permanent-Paint text:"56m Permanent Bridge, Pennsylvania"
from:1809 till:1819 color:VB-Paint text:" 54m Pont de Vieille-Brioude, France"
from:1796 till:1809 color:PontGrand-Paint text:" 49m Pont Grand, France"

Longest Spans 142 BC - 1796

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id:Abbadia-Paint Value:coral
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from:1479 till:1796 color:VB-Paint text:" 54m Pont de Vieille-Brioude, France"
from:1416 till:1479 color:Castel-Paint text:" 48m Castelvecchio Bridge, Italy"
from:1377 till:1416 color:Gold1 text:" 72m Trezzo sull'Adda Bridge, Italy"
from:1356 till:1377 color:Castel-Paint text:" 48m Castelvecchio Bridge, Italy"
from:1341 till:1356 color:PontDiable-Paint text:" 45m Pont du Diable, France"
from:1147 till:1341 color:Malabadi-Paint text:" 38m Malabadi Bridge, Turkey"
from:605 till:1147 color:Zhauzhou-Paint text:" 37m Zhaozhou Bridge, China"
from:270 till:605 color:Severan-Paint text:" 34m Severan Bridge, Turkey"
from:105 till:270 color:Trajan-Paint text:" 52m Trajan's Bridge, Romania - Serbia"
from:-27 till:105 color:Augusto-Paint text:" 32m Ponte di Augusto, Italy"
from:-62 till:-27 color:Fabricius-Paint text:" 24m Pons Fabricius, Italy"
from:-90 till:-62 color:Abbadia-Paint text:" Ponte dell'Abbadia, Italy"
from:-115 till:-90 color:Milvio-Paint text:" Pons Milvio, Italy"
from:-142 till:-115 color:Aemilius-Paint text:" Pons Aemilius, Italy"

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bar:Silver align:center shift:(0,0) mark:(line,white)
from:1583 till:1796 color:PontGrand-Paint text:" 49m Pont Grand, France"
from:1479 till:1583 color:Castel-Paint text:" 48m Castelvecchio Bridge, Italy"
from:1416 till:1479 color:PontDiable-Paint text:" 45m Pont du Diable, France"
from:1377 till:1416 color:Castel-Paint text:" 48m Castelvecchio Bridge, Italy"
from:1356 till:1377 color:PontDiable-Paint text:" 45m Pont du Diable, France"
from:1341 till:1356 color:Malabadi-Paint text:" 38m Malabadi Bridge, Turkey"
from:1147 till:1341 color:Zhauzhou-Paint shift:(0,-4) text:" 37m Zhaozhou Bridge, China"
from:605 till:1147 color:Severan-Paint text:" 34m Severan Bridge, Turkey"
from:270 till:605 color:Augusto-Paint text:" 32m Ponte di Augusto, Italy"
from:105 till:270 color:Trajan-Paint text:" 52m Trajan's Bridge, other span"
from:-25 till:105 color:Saint-Martin-Paint text:" 31m Ponte Saint-Martin, Italy"
from:-27 till:-25 color:Fabricius-Paint shift:(0,4) text:" 24m Pons Fabricius, Italy"
from:-62 till:-27 color:Fabricius-Paint text:" 24m Pons Fabricius, second span"
from:-90 till:-62 color:Milvio-Paint text:" Pons Milvio, Italy"
from:-115 till:-90 color:Milvio-Paint text:" Pons Milvio, other span"
from:-142 till:-115 color:Aemilius-Paint text:" Pons Aemilius, other span"

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bar:Bronze mark:(line,white) align:center shift:(0,0)
from:1583 till:1796 color:Castel-Paint text:" 48m Castelvecchio Bridge, Italy"
from:1479 till:1583 color:PontDiable-Paint text:" 45m Pont du Diable, France"
from:1416 till:1479 color:Bronze1 text:" 40m Puente de San Martín, Spain"
from:1377 till:1416 color:PontDiable-Paint text:" 45m Pont du Diable, France"
from:1356 till:1377 color:Malabadi-Paint text:" 38m Malabadi Bridge, Turkey"
from:1341 till:1356 color:Zhauzhou-Paint text:" 37m Zhaozhou Bridge, China"
from:1283 till:1341 color:Bronze2 shift:(0,-4) text:" 37m Puente del Diablo, Spain"
from:1150 till:1283 color:Bronze1 text:"35m Ponte do Porto, Portugal"
from:1147 till:1150 color:Severan-Paint text:" 34m Severan Bridge, Turkey"
from:800 till:1147 color:Augusto-Paint text:" 32m Ponte di Augusto, Italy"
from:750 till:800 color:Saint-Martin-Paint text:" 31m Ponte Saint-Martin, Italy"
from:605 till:750 color:Augusto-Paint text:" 32m Ponte di Augusto, Italy"
from:270 till:605 color:Saint-Martin-Paint text:" 31m Ponte Saint-Martin, Italy"
from:105 till:270 color:Trajan-Paint text:" 52m Trajan's Bridge, other span"
from:-25 till:105 color:Fabricius-Paint text:" 24m Pons Fabricius, Italy"
from:-27 till:-25 color:Fabricius-Paint shift:(0,4) text:" 24m Pons Fabricius, second span"
from:-62 till:-27 color:Abbadia-Paint text:" Ponte dell'Abbadia, Italy"
from:-90 till:-62 color:Milvio-Paint text:" Pons Milvio, other span"
from:-100 till:-90 color:Bronze2 text:" Ponte di Pietra, Italy"
from:-142 till:-100 color:Aemilius-Paint text:" Pons Aemilius, other span"

Known incorrect construction years

In this table the finishing years of construction of the structures shown in the timeline, that are known to be incorrect, are listed. If a guess was not made for the years of construction that are unknown, the graphical timeline could not be drawn. Some timber arches are probably missing from the timeline in the 19th century.

External links

* :cs:Žďákovský most Žďákov bridge has a span of 362 m. The steel part of the span is 330 m. http://www.karl-gotsch.de/Brdaten/Beschreibung_273.htm, http://www.libri.cz/databaze/mosty/obrazek.php?src=./pics/3451/431u-Zdakov_a.jpg&title=%AE%CF%C1KOV. Both following sources have incorrect values of the span: http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0005872, http://www.brueckenweb.de/2content/datenbank/bruecken/3brueckenblatt.php?bas=174
* :pt:Ponte do Porto, http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0020363
*Cascade bridge https://web.archive.org/web/20131216060339/http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/ERIECASC.Html
* :fr:Viaduc du Viaur http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?ID=s0000163
*Permanent Bridge http://www.catskillarchive.com/rrextra/brcoo0.Html http://en.structurae.de/structures/data/index.cfm?id=s0002231
*Bamberg bridge {{cite book, last=Tredgold, first=Thomas , author-link=Thomas Tredgold , title=Elementary Principles of Carpentry , year=1837 , publisher=E. L. Carey and A. Hart. , location=Philadelphia , pages=129 , url=https://books.google.com/books?id=fDJVAAAAMAAJ }
Hypothesis:Figure of Freysingen, similar to Bamberg

Deck arch bridges
Lists of construction records
Spans, three longest supported deck arch bridge