In brief
- The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is the most expensive bridge ever built, at about $20 billion.
- Japan’s Great Seto Bridge ranks second at about $15.4 billion, and the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge third at $8.5 billion.
- The Gordie Howe International Bridge opened on 27 July 2026 after costing CAD 6.4 billion.
- Costs are as reported at the time of construction and are not adjusted for inflation.
As of October 2026, the most expensive bridge ever built is the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge, at a commonly cited cost of about $20 billion. Japan’s Great Seto Bridge follows at around $15.4 billion, and China’s Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge is third at roughly $8.5 billion.
This ranking uses the build costs most often reported for each crossing. We have also added the Gordie Howe International Bridge between Canada and the United States, which opened to traffic in July 2026 after costing CAD 6.4 billion.
| Rank | Bridge | Country | Cost | Opened |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge | China, Hong Kong, Macau | $20 billion | 2018 |
| 2 | Great Seto Bridge | Japan | $15.4 billion | 1988 |
| 3 | Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge | China | $8.5 billion | 2011 |
| 4 | San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (Eastern Span) | USA | $6.5 billion | 2013 |
| 5 | Øresund Bridge | Denmark, Sweden | $6.5 billion | 2000 |
| 6 | Great Belt Bridge | Denmark | $6.28 billion | 1997 to 1998 |
| 7 | Akashi Kaikyo Bridge | Japan | $4.96 billion | 1998 |
| 8 | Gordie Howe International Bridge | Canada, USA | CAD 6.4 billion | 2026 |
| 9 | Evergreen Point Floating Bridge | USA | $4.5 billion | 2016 |
| 10 | Kerch Strait Bridge | Russia, Crimea | $3.7 billion | 2018 |
| 11 | Samuel De Champlain Bridge | Canada | $3.4 billion | 2019 |
1. Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge: $20 billion
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge links Hong Kong, the city of Zhuhai in mainland China and Macau across the Pearl River Delta. The full crossing is about 55 km long, which makes it the longest sea-crossing bridge and tunnel system in the world.
Also readMost Expensive Chocolates in the World 2026: Top 9 RankedIt opened in October 2018 after about nine years of work. The route combines bridge sections, two artificial islands and an undersea tunnel, so that large ships can still pass through the busy shipping lanes above it.
2. Great Seto Bridge: $15.4 billion
The Great Seto Bridge is not one bridge but a chain of bridges and viaducts that connect Okayama on Honshu with Kagawa on Shikoku. The system is about 13.1 km long and carries both road and rail traffic on two decks.
Construction ran from 1978 to 1988. The high figure reflects the full multi-bridge route, which includes suspension, cable-stayed and truss bridges across the Seto Inland Sea.
3. Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge: $8.5 billion
At about 164.8 km, the Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in Jiangsu province is the longest bridge in the world. It is a viaduct that carries the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway over rice paddies, rivers, lakes and canals.
The bridge was completed in 2010 and opened with the railway in 2011. Building on a raised viaduct reduced the amount of farmland the line needed and kept the track level for high-speed trains.
4. San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge (Eastern Span): $6.5 billion
The eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge was replaced because the old section was damaged in the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. The new span was designed to stay in service after a major earthquake.
Work started in 2002 and the span opened on 2 September 2013, several years later than planned. Its centrepiece is the world’s longest single-tower self-anchored suspension span. Cost overruns pushed the final bill to around $6.5 billion.
5. Øresund Bridge: $6.5 billion
The Øresund Bridge connects Copenhagen in Denmark with Malmö in Sweden. Drivers and trains cross about 8 km of bridge, reach the artificial island of Peberholm and then enter a tunnel of about 4 km to the Danish side.
The link opened in July 2000 and carries a motorway and a railway. The tunnel section keeps the route clear of flight paths near Copenhagen Airport and leaves room for shipping.
6. Great Belt Bridge: $6.28 billion
The Great Belt Fixed Link joins the Danish islands of Zealand and Funen. It is made up of the East Bridge, a suspension bridge, the West Bridge, and a railway tunnel, with a total route of about 18 km.
Construction ran from 1988, with rail traffic starting in 1997 and road traffic in 1998. The East Bridge has one of the longest suspension spans in the world, at 1,624 metres.
7. Akashi Kaikyo Bridge: $4.96 billion
The Akashi Kaikyo Bridge crosses the Akashi Strait between Kobe and Awaji Island in Japan. Its central span of 1,991 metres was the longest of any suspension bridge in the world from its opening in April 1998 until Turkey’s 1915 Çanakkale Bridge opened in 2022.
The bridge was built to resist strong typhoon winds, earthquakes and fast sea currents. During construction, the 1995 Kobe earthquake moved the towers apart and added close to a metre to the planned span.
8. Gordie Howe International Bridge: CAD 6.4 billion
The Gordie Howe International Bridge crosses the Detroit River between Windsor, Ontario and Detroit, Michigan. Canada paid for the construction, and the bridge is jointly owned by Canada and the state of Michigan, according to Global News.
An opening ceremony was held on 24 July 2026 and the bridge opened to traffic on 27 July 2026, after delays from an earlier target date. Canada’s debt from building it is reported at CAD 6.4 billion, roughly $4.6 billion. It is named after the Canadian ice hockey player Gordie Howe.
9. Evergreen Point Floating Bridge: $4.5 billion
The Evergreen Point Floating Bridge carries State Route 520 across Lake Washington between Seattle and Medina. At about 2.35 km, it is the longest floating bridge in the world. It rests on 77 concrete pontoons instead of fixed piers.
The replacement bridge opened in April 2016 and took over from a 1963 floating bridge. The $4.5 billion figure covers the wider SR 520 replacement programme, not only the floating section.
10. Kerch Strait Bridge: $3.7 billion
The Kerch Strait Bridge, also called the Crimean Bridge, links Russia’s Taman Peninsula with Crimea. At about 19 km, it is the longest bridge in Europe. Russia built it after it annexed Crimea in 2014, a move most countries do not recognise.
The road section opened in May 2018 and the rail section in December 2019. The bridge was damaged by an explosion in October 2022 and again in an attack in July 2023, and parts were later repaired.
11. Samuel De Champlain Bridge: $3.4 billion
The Samuel De Champlain Bridge crosses the St. Lawrence River in Montreal. It replaced the original Champlain Bridge of 1962, which was one of the busiest crossings in Canada and had worn out faster than expected.
The new cable-stayed bridge is about 3.4 km long and opened to traffic in 2019. It has six traffic lanes, a lane for public transit and a path for pedestrians and cyclists.
How we ranked these bridges
We ranked bridges by their commonly reported construction cost in US dollars, at the time they were built. Figures are not adjusted for inflation, and some cover a full crossing system or programme rather than one bridge. For the Gordie Howe bridge we used the Canadian dollar figure reported in 2026.
Planned crossings are not included until they are built. Italy’s Strait of Messina Bridge, approved in 2025 at an estimated €13.5 billion, would rank near the top, but its approval process has faced delays. For other record prices, see our lists of the most expensive buildings ever constructed and the most expensive islands in the world.
Sources: Lovemoney, The world’s most expensive bridges, Global News, Gordie Howe bridge opens to traffic (2026), ClickOnDetroit, Gordie Howe International Bridge opens (2026), ANSA, Messina Strait bridge (2026).
Frequently asked questions
What is the most expensive bridge ever built?
The Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau Bridge is the most expensive bridge ever built, at a commonly cited cost of about $20 billion. The 55 km crossing opened in October 2018 and links Hong Kong, Zhuhai and Macau through bridges, artificial islands and an undersea tunnel.
What is the longest bridge in the world?
The Danyang-Kunshan Grand Bridge in China is the longest bridge in the world, at about 164.8 km. It carries the Beijing-Shanghai high-speed railway and opened in 2011. It is also one of the most expensive bridges, at about $8.5 billion.
How much did the Gordie Howe International Bridge cost?
Canada’s debt from building the Gordie Howe International Bridge is reported at CAD 6.4 billion, roughly $4.6 billion. Canada paid for the construction, and the bridge between Windsor and Detroit opened to traffic on 27 July 2026.
Why are some bridges so expensive to build?
Long spans over deep water, earthquake and typhoon protection, artificial islands, undersea tunnels and rail decks all add cost. Delays and design changes also raise the final bill, as happened with the eastern span of the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge.
Is the Strait of Messina Bridge built yet?
No. Italy approved the Strait of Messina Bridge in 2025 at an estimated €13.5 billion, but the project has faced delays in its approval process. It is not included in this ranking because it has not been built.
See more Wealthy Garage stories on Google
Add us as a preferred source and our stories will show up more often in your Top Stories.
Add Wealthy Garage as a preferred source on Google
