How to get specific bridges in SimCity 3000

Contributor/author(s): Anthony Bongiovanni

The kind of bridge you'll wind up with depends on how many whole water tiles there are between the two coasts. The sloping land tile that drops into the water is not counted as a water tile for these categories, but it is counted for the cost of the bridge, which is 100 simoleons per tile (i.e., add 2 to the amount of water tiles, and multiply by 100).

Bridge: 1 -> 3 tiles (300 to 500 simoleons)
Similar to SC2000's causeway, supported by one or two pylons. These bridges will be built over expanses of 1 to 3 water tiles. Only one pylon is used for a bridge traveling over 1 water tile.

Harbor Bridge: 4 -> 7 (600 to 900 simoleons)
A cantilever bridge, built over 4 to 7 tiles of water.

Brooklyn Bridge: 8 -> 15 (1000 to 1700 simoleons)
Brick and concrete tower suspension bridge built over 8 to 15 tiles. There are two towers for bridges of 8 to 12 tiles in length, and three towers for 13, 14, and 15 tile spans.

Golden Gate Bridge: 16 and up (1800+ simoleons)
Steel tower suspension bridge built for spans of 16 tiles and up. There are two towers for bridges up to 24 tiles in length, with an extra tower added for every 9 additional tiles -
16 -> 24 = Two towers
25 -> 33 = Three towers
34 -> 42 = Four towers
- and so on.

This information can be used to try to save as many simoleons as possible by minimizing terrain modifications while still getting a desired bridge type.

See also
How to build bridges
How to build double bridges
Simpleton Series: Bridge selection tool
How to get the biggest buildings