It Doesn’t Always Have to Be Airports: Bridge Builders for MSFS
Bridges in MSFS: Challenges and Solutions
Even in MSFS 2024, bridges still mostly look anything but appealing. This is mainly due to the fact that satellite radar images can only depict bridges from above. This technique creates unsightly and often unrealistic bridge structures from a side perspective, which are unattractive to sim pilots, especially at low altitudes. A good example of this is the Interstate Bridge over the Columbia River north of Portland, which is flown over during the approach to Portland International Airport (KPDX, superbly implemented by iBlueYonder and FlightBeam Studios).
To render bridges truly realistic in MSFS 2020 and the new MSFS 2024, a great deal of manual rework is required. For Asobo, it would be far too much effort to model the huge number of bridges individually. This would require several person-years of manual work.
Airport designers usually address this issue in the immediate vicinity of airports, replacing prominent bridges with elaborate 3D models. Good examples are San Francisco (KSFO) by FlightBeam and San Antonio (KSAT) by iniBuilds. However, many so-called “radar shadow bridges” are generally visible primarily to VFR pilots, who often enjoy the scenery at low altitudes and are particularly sensitive to unsightly standard bridges.
Add-ons for realistic bridges: rkbridger and Luna Park Creations
This is where add-on designers like rkbridger (rkb) and Luna Park Creations (LPC) come in: They replace standard bridges with detailed, hand-built models. The target audience is primarily virtual “low & slow” pilots and instrument pilots who value interesting bridges near airports.
LPC has so far covered the San Francisco Bay Area and the Bridges of San Diego. Both packages are available for MSFS 2020 and MSFS 2024.
rkbridger has continuously expanded its offerings and now covers numerous regions of the USA, including:
- Arizona Bridges
- Boston & Cape Cod Canal Bridges
- California North Bridges
- Florida North Coast Bridges
- Florida West Coast Bridges
- New York City Bridges
- Hudson River Bridges
- Jacksonville Florida Bridges
- Long Island New York Bridges
- Mid Atlantic USA Bridges
- Minneapolis-St. Paul USA Bridges
- Mississippi River Bridges South
- New England South Coast Bridges
- New Jersey North & South Bridges
- Newark Intl. EWR nearby Bridges and Ports
- Omaha & Missouri River Bridges
- Oregon South Coast Bridges
- Ottawa Bridges
- Philadelphia Bridges
- Portland & Columbia River Bridges
- Tennessee River Bridges
- Ohio River Central Bridges
- Ohio River Bridges Cincinnati to Louisville
- Pittsburgh 3 Rivers Bridges
- St. Louis Bridges
- Vancouver Area Bridges
All products are available from SIMMARKET from around €5.95 to around €24.98. In addition, the portfolio also includes European exotics such as “„Austria Danube Bridges”, „England Wales Coastal Bridges” and „Swiss Rhine Bridges”
Quality and Compatibility
Both providers closely follow the original in the design of their bridges. Bridges with lighting are also illuminated accordingly in the simulator. The only drawback: reflections of the roadway appear on the ground under many bridges – this is technically difficult to avoid and requires considerable effort to correct.
The add-ons are compatible with other airport and city scenery. Conflicts, such as those between “New York City Bridges” and “New York City Times (v2)” by SamScene, do not occur.
A highlight for the Coronado Bridge in San Diego: LPC offers nine different lighting options – including variants such as “Hanukah,” “Mardi Gras,” “Patriotic,” and “Christmas” – as downloads.
Conclusion
The two providers Luna Park Creations and rkbridger build impressively crafted bridges for the MSFS – and the selection is slowly but steadily growing. Anyone who specifically treats themselves to bridges in regions important to them can’t go wrong as a virtual pilot!
Bert Groner
FS Review
October 2025
