Acrophobics, consider closing this tab before reading any further; thrill-seekers, adrenaline junkies, and lovers of heights, this one's for you. According to the Zermatt , Switzerland tourism office , the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world opened this weekend.

The Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge, constructed by SWISSROPE in just 10 weeks, spans the Zermatt Valley in the Swiss Alps and is a whopping 1,621 feet long. The bridge, which takes 10 minutes to cross, is part of the Europaweg trail and reaches heights of 7,218 feet above sea level, according to a press release from Zermatt Tourism. Not to mention, hikers on the suspension bridge will have to walk up an incline of 279 feet to reach the other side.

The release notes that alpine hikers with a fear of heights should consider avoiding the record-setting bridge because through the structure's lower grates, as "it is possible to look into the precipice below one's feet." Those who dare to keep their eyes open, however, will see the Matterhorn looming ahead as they walk toward Zermatt from Grächen, while those passing in the opposite direction will have an unbeatable view of the Bernese Alps that surround the "deepest-cut valley in Switzerland."

The pedestrian suspension bridge was named for its primary sponsor, psychologist and winery co-owner Charles Kuonen, and cuts travel time across the Zermatt Valley by nearly four hours, according to CNN . At the bridge's official opening on Saturday, July 29, Daniel Luggen, director of Zermatt Tourism, could barely contain his excitement, CNN reports. "How often do you get the chance to cross a real-world record suspension bridge?" he said. "The thrill experienced high over the precipice is indescribable."

As for those heights-averse alpine travelers who bravely want to take advantage of the newly constructed shortcut across the Zermatt Valley, Zermatt Tourism spokesperson Edith Zweifel recommended on Saturday that "people who have problems with a fear of heights, they have to close their eyes, or have someone to walk just behind," according to CNN.

Though the new structure is the longest suspension bridge in the world, it's by no means the first gravity-defying, heart-stopping pedestrian overpass to be constructed among one of the world's most majestic mountain ranges. The Aiguille du Midi Bridge in the French Alps is a whopping 12,500 feet above sea level and features an adjoining glass skywalk called "Step Into the Void." And if that's not high enough for you, the Titlis Cliff Walk along the alpine Mount Titlis in Engelberg, Switzerland, is the highest elevation suspension bridge in Europe, clocking in at 10,000 feet above sea level and allowing travelers along its 328-foot span to peer into "the abyss of the south wall," according to CNN . All are valid options if skiing the Alps just isn't enough to satisfy your adrenaline cravings.</s>Written by CNN Staff

Spanning an awesome 1621 feet and rising as high as 279 feet, the newly opened Charles Kuonen Suspension Bridge in Switzerland has broken the record for the world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge, according to Zermatt Tourism. The bridge offers hikers views of the Matterhorn, Weisshorn and Bernese Alps.

"How often do you get the chance to cross a real world record suspension bridge?" said Daniel Luggen, director of Zermatt Tourism, at the bridge's inauguration on July 29. "The thrill experienced high over the precipice is indescribable."

The bridge, which has replaced an older bridge that was damaged by falling rocks, was named after its chief sponsor, a psychologist and co-owner of a Swiss winery.

It spans the valley between the towns of Zermatt and Grächen. According to Edith Zweifel, a spokesperson for the travel board, it cuts the journey across the valley from three to four hours to a mere 10 minutes. (The total journey time between Zermatt and Grächen is about two days.)

World's longest pedestrian suspension bridge

While the bridge's height has removed the risk of rock fall, more height-averse hikers may want to plan ahead before making the trek.

"People who have problems with a fear of heights, they have to close their eyes, or have someone to walk just behind," Zweifel said.</s>The world's longest pedestrian suspension bridge opened in Switzerland on Sunday, a ribbon-thin span nearly a third of a mile long that challenges hikers to proceed in places at nearly 28 stories above ground.

Officials in the south of Switzerland unveiled the bridge after just 10 weeks of construction. It measures 1,620 feet long and rises as high as 278 feet above the Grabengufer ravine.

The span is also impossibly narrow, at just 25.6 inches wide.

See for yourself:

The new bridge replaces one that was damaged by rock falls, the BBC reported.

The steel structure connects two sections of a trail between Grächen and Zermatt, a popular two-day hike. The local tourist authority warns that the high bridge is “for hikers with no fear of heights.”

The bridge completes a section of the Europaweg trail, a high-altitude hiking route that offers views of some of Switzerland’s highest peaks, including the Matterhorn.</s>A nearly 500m (1,640ft) bridge for hikers billed as the longest hanging pedestrian bridge in the world has opened near the Swiss town of Zermatt.

The 494m bridge, named the Europabrücke (Europe Bridge), hangs up to 85m above the Grabengufer ravine.</s>The Europabrücke has been dubbed the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge! The ribbon-thin bridge opened in a town called Zermatt in Switzerland. The bridge is 85m high and roughly 500m long.

According to the Zermatt Tourist Board, it is the world’s longest although a 405m bridge in Reutte, Austria is 110m above the ground.

The bridge weighs eight tonnes due to the cables and is specially equipped to prevent the bridge from swinging.

Would you put this on your bucket list?</s>A nearly 500m (1,640ft) bridge for hikers billed as the longest hanging pedestrian bridge in the world has opened near the Swiss town of Zermatt.

The 494m bridge, named the Europabrücke (Europe Bridge), hangs up to 85m above the Grabengufer ravine.

The Zermatt Tourist Board says it is the world's longest, although a 405m bridge in Reutte in Austria hangs 110m higher above the ground.

It replaces a previous bridge that had been damaged by rock falls.

The new bridge, whose cables weigh about eight tonnes, is equipped with a system to prevent it from swinging, the Zermatt Tourist Board said.

It forms part of a two-day hiking route between Zermatt and Grächen in southern Switzerland with views of the Matterhorn mountain.</s>Whatever you do, don't look down.

This 1,620ft long, 278ft high suspension bridge - the longest in the world - connects the mountain villages of Zermatt and Graechen in Randa, Switzerland.

Named 'Europabruecke' (Europe Bridge), it was officially inaugurated this morning and took its first brave walkers.

Below it is the Grabengufer ravine, an area at the foot of Switzerland's highest mountain - the 14,911ft-high Dom.

It replaces an old bridge on the Europaweg trail that was damaged by falling rocks.

Amazingly, the new crossing - which is held up with eight tonnes of cables - is only two feet wide.

The 'Europabruecke' suspension bridge (pictured) was inaugurated today after it was built to replace an older crossing that was damaged by falling rocks. It is a record 1,620ft long and, at its highest point, 278ft high. Below it is the Grabengufer ravine, an area at the foot of the highest mountain in Switzerland - the Dom - which is 14,911 ft high. The bridge forms part of a hiking route between the towns of Zermatt and Grachen, and includes views of the legendary Matterhorn

Before the construction of the bridge, hikers were forced to make an arduous detour to the valley and back up along the Europaweg trail above Randa - meaning a 1,640ft climb and descent for each section. This was because, in 2010, the previous bridge was closed because of falling rocks and unstable terrain. The new bridge (pictured) is about 650ft below the new one. Its width, however, is a mere two feet

The two enormous cables that hold the bridge in the air each have a diameter of 173ft and weigh a combined 8 tonnes. The bridge is accessible from Randa in 2 and a half hours. Pictured: An aerial shot that was taken by a drone shows the remarkable scale of the Europabruecke bridge

Pictured: The huge bridge is seen from the side after being photographed by a drone. An old bridge that once crossed the ravine was damaged by falling rocks in 2010, forcing hikers to take an exhausting detour as a consequence. The Zermatt tourist board, however, gladly announced with the inauguration of the new bridge: 'This will be only a memory'</s>The longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world was officially opened in Switzerland today, measuring in at just under half-a-kilometre long.



The steel bridge, which connects two sections of a walking trail between Grächen and Zermatt in the south of the country, was unveiled after a construction period of just ten weeks.



At 494 metres long, it overtakes the “Titan-RT” bridge in Germany as the world’s longest pedestrian suspension bridge. And at a narrow 65cm wide, the bridge stretches like a thin wire across the sheer valley floor.



Built by local company swissrope/Lauber Seilbahnen, the bridge completes a section of the Europaweg trail, a high-altitude walking route offering panoramas of some of Switzerland’s highest peaks, including the Dom (4,545m) and the Matterhorn.



In a press release, the Zermatt Tourism body promised “thrills above the precipice.” This might be so; but it is not for the faint-hearted. With a maximum height of 85 metres above the valley, the bridge is only “for hikers with no fear of heights,” they said.</s>Pieces of the Kosciuszko Bridge were lowered onto two barges and taken away on July 25 as part of an overall $873 million investment to replace the existing Kosciuszko Bridge with two new state-of-the-art, cable-stayed bridges. The first opened in the spring and the second is expected to debut in 2021. Steel cables were used to slowly lower the span approximately 125 feet—by an estimated 20 feet per hour—onto two barges joined together in Newtown Creek. The process lasted approximately 17 hours.</s>The new Wando River bridge is open.

Highway 41 traffic was shifted from the narrow Swing Span bridge onto the new Wando River bridge early Friday morning. The bridges connect Berkeley and Charleston counties.

“The bridge was nearing the end of its design life and various elements of its design no longer met current standards such as lane widths, vertical clearance, lack of shoulders, etc.,” Daniel Burton with SCDOT said.

The old bridge will be removed in its entirety.

 

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The Charles Kuonen Bridge in the Swiss Alps in Randa, Switzerland, opens. At 1,621 feet (494 meters), it is the longest pedestrian suspension bridge in the world.