Time Capsule: Record-Breaking Bridges

From bustling city centers to remote wilderness areas, bridges stand as testaments to human ingenuity and the relentless pursuit of connection. Over the years, Kiewit has contributed to several record-breaking bridges unlike any before their time. This collection of Kieways articles revisits those milestone projects.

1963 | Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge

World’s longest suspension bridge

Upon completion, the Verrazzano-Narrows Bridge, spanning the entrance to New York Harbor, was the world’s longest suspension bridge. Kiewit worked on the Staten Island anchorage, which required approximately 137,000 cubic yards of concrete. The bridge stretches more than 2.5 miles, with a central suspension span of 4,260 feet. Today, the Verrazzano-Narrows remains an iconic symbol of New York City and a landmark in bridge engineering.

1971 | Fred G. Redmon Bridge

North America’s longest concrete arch bridge

The Fred G. Redmon Bridge, also known as the Selah Creek Bridge, is a twin-arch structure crossing the Yakima River in Washington state. Each span measures 550 feet and rises 325 feet above the streambed. With an overall length of 1,336 feet, it was the longest concrete arch bridge in North America at the time of its completion.

2004 | SW Second Avenue Bascule Bridge

Nation’s third longest drawbridge

Completed 22 days ahead of schedule, the SW Second Avenue Bascule Bridge in Miami, Florida, replaced an older drawbridge to improve both vehicular and marine traffic flow. At the time of its completion, it ranked as the fifth-longest bascule bridge in the world and the third-longest in the United States.

2007 | Tacoma Narrows Bridge

United States’ longest suspension bridge

The Tacoma Narrows Bridge, part of Washington State Route 16, was the longest suspension bridge built in the U.S. in more than 40 years. The bridge spans 5,400 feet and is 78 feet wide, with two 510-foot towers and a 2,800-foot main span from tower to tower. More than 50,000 people walked across the bridge to celebrate its grand opening in July 2007.

2013 | Port Mann Bridge

World’s widest bridge

In March 2009, the joint venture of Kiewit and Flatiron was awarded the design-build contract for the $2.7 billion Port Mann Bridge — the largest transportation infrastructure project in British Columbia history. When it opened in 2012, the 10-lane bridge was the second-longest cable-stayed span in North America and set a Guinness World Record as the world’s widest bridge at 65 meters wide.

Read the full Kieways story about the Port Mann Bridge (Page 20).