Cross that bridge
when you come to it
sounds like good advice.
Although you might
be better off not crossing
some of these potential
death traps.
So, what do you do when this old,
cracked piece of concrete
is the only
road to get you where you're going?
Hold on,
let’s see if we can get you
there in one piece.
No matter how experienced
a driver you think you are,
whether it's nearly blinding fog
or strong winds pushing your car off
unfinished roads,
some bridges are filled
with deadly threats.
Today, we put together a list of
the deadliest bridges around
the globe
and hopefully,
you’ll learn a skill or two
that’ll get you to the other end
of the bridge.
It goes over the Vitim River,
right on the border between
the Zabaikalsky region
and the Republic of Buryatia.
The bridge was only supposed
to be a temporary solution
during the construction of a railway.
It was never completed,
but the locals still use it.
Its 0.5 km (0.3 mi) length
has been closed several times
due to structural damage
caused by ice flows,
but drivers keep
repairing it.
It only has room for one car
and no safety railings,
so when the strong winds
start to blow
you could end up
plummeting into the freezing
waters below.
To avoid this,
people who cross
the Kuandinsky regularly
lower their windows
to allow the wind to go
right through their car.
Part of this Florida highway bridge
is built directly above water
where salt and storms erode it
faster than it can be repaired.
Connecting Knights Key
to Little Duck Key,
it runs alongside another bridge,
fittingly called
Old Seven Mile Bridge.
The first was built in 1912
and the current version in 1982.
The original was severely damaged
in 1935
when a hurricane hit the region.
After being closed for several years,
it reopened in 2022
as a pedestrian-friendly
tourist destination.
Before venturing onto
the Seven Mile Bridge,
check the weather forecast.
Make sure there isn’t
a hurricane approaching,
and if things start to get dicey,
drive slowly.
If you’re afraid of heights,
you might want to skip
visiting this one.
At 457 m (1,500 ft),
it held the title of the highest
bridge in the world
when it opened in 2009.
Its construction required
the use of rockets
to string the first pilot line
across the chasm
and it can hold over
39 billion kg (43 million tons) of weight.
This incredible suspension bridge
connects two parts of the country
that were separated
by mountains and rivers.
The main danger
is its stunning view.
You’d be so mesmerized by it
that it can be easy
to not pay attention to the road.
Always keep lots of space
between you and other cars,
just in case.
This is not one for the faint-hearted.
Locally,
it is known as 'the drunk bridge'
and its appearance
has been compared
to that of a rollercoaster.
Whatever angle you're at,
its shape appears slightly different.
A giant curve makes it so that
you won't be able to see the end
of the bridge,
giving the illusion
that it ends abruptly.
If the sharp bends aren’t enough,
the Storseisundet has dealt
with its fair
share of hurricanes.
An average day
can have you facing winds
of up to 48 km/h (30 mph),
making the chances of being
swept away a very real possibility.
Avoid it during
the harsh winter months
when powerful storm waves
regularly crash onto the road.
About 20,000 vehicles cross this
old Washington State bridge
every day.
Built in 1934,
it connects Whidbey Island
and Fidalgo Island.
This area tends to have a lot
of mist and fog
that can dangerously decrease
visibility for drivers
When driving through fog,
put your hazards on
and take it slow.
Don’t stop completely,
just in case
there's a car behind you.
You managed to get to the other
side of these bridges safe
and sound.
But the danger won't stop there.
Roads can be deceiving
and deadly,
like this South American highway
that kills over 200 people every year.
We'll make sure you won't be
added to that statistic
because we have
the video for you,
here
on How to Survive.