The spans range up to abut 1700 ft. Cantilever bridges consist of two independent beams, cantilevers, that extend from opposite banks of a waterway. Cantilever bridges have spans as long at 1800 ft. Cablestayed bridges have roadways that hang from cables. The cables are connected directly to towers.
Moveable bridges have roadway that is moved to provide enough clearance for large ships to pass.
An example of a moveable bridge is a draw-bridge that tilts the roadway upward. Suspension bridges can be the most impressive type of bridge because of their long main span and especially attractive appearance. These bridges have a roadway that hangs from steel cables that are supported by two high towers. The difference between suspension bridges and cable-stayed bridges is that with a suspension bridge the cables are not directly connected to the towers. Some suspension bridges have a main span longer then 4000 ft.