ACNH - Animal Crossing: New Horizons (Switch)

How to Build and Destroy Bridges

Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH) - How to Build and Destroy Bridges Guide

To build and destroy bridges in Animal Crossing: New Horizons (ACNH), talk to Tom Nook about infrastructure. Learn more about the different bridge types and how to place bridges with our How to Build Bridges guide below!

List of Bridges

Here is the complete list of bridges you can build in New Horizons. There are 8 types of bridges in total.

List of Bridge Types and Prices
ACNH - Log Bridge
Log Bridge
Price: 98,000
ACNH - Suspension Bridge
Suspension Bridge
Price: 129,000
ACNH - Stone Bridge
Stone Bridge
Price: 168,000
ACNH - Wooden Bridge
Wooden Bridge
Price: 168,000
ACNH - Brick Bridge
Brick Bridge
Price: 198,000
ACNH - Iron Bridge
Iron Bridge
Price: 228,000
ACNH - Red Zen Bridge
Red Zen Bridge
Price: 228,000
ACNH - Zen Bridge
Zen Bridge
Price: 228,000
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Maximum Number of Bridges

Version 2.0 Update

ACNH - Maximum of 10 Bridges and Inclines on Your Island

By default, you can only have up to 8 bridges and incline on one island.

However, you can now landscape your island with up to 10 bridges and inclines with the Pro Construction License! The license was added with the Version 2.0 Update as one of the many new Nook Miles Rewards.

What Should You Spend Nook Miles on First?

How to Build a Bridge (Infrastructure Project)

1 Talk to Tom Nook about infrastructure, then select about bridges/inclines.
2 Choose the type of bridge you want to build.
3 Use the bridge marker kit next to water.
4 The bridge will be built the next day after reaching goal..

You can cancel bridge construction anytime.

1. Talk to Tom Nook About Inclines and Bridges

ACNH - A player tells Tom Nook to build a bridge

After upgrading Resident Services, you'll gain access to infrastructural changes to the island by saying "Let's talk about infrastructure". After that, select "About bridges/inclines".

2. Choose the Type of Bridge You Want to Build

Choose to build a bridge, and select the type of bridge you want to build. Bridges differs in prices. See the complete list of bridges in the section above.

3. Use the Bridge Marker Kit Next to a River

ACNH - A player uses a bridge marker kit
Use the Bridge Marker Kit next to the water to start the construction. Check this section for notes on bridge construction.

If you have been using the Island Designer app, you can use it to terraform the water.

4. Reach the Goal and the Bridge Will be Built the Next Day

ACNH - Lloid the Gyroid asks for donation towards the construction of a bridge

After you put down the Bridge Marker, a Gyroid will be set in front of the planned location to accept donations. Once the full amount has been paid, the Bridge will be constructed.

This method will allow you to pay little by little until the amount is reached. Other island residents will donate, but only by a few bells.

Gather Donations from Visitors

If you have other users living on the island, or players from other islands come to visit you, you can ask for donations. A donation can even be a great condition for an online trade!

Recipe and Fruit Trading Board

You Can Cancel Bridge Construction

ACNH - A player tries to cancel construction of a bridge

You can cancel the construction anytime by talking to Tom Nook at the Resident Services. Take note that Bells that have been donated will be gone.

How to Build a Bridge (First Time)

1 Open Nook's Cranny.
2 Get the Bridge Construction Kit Recipe from Tom Nook.
3 Craft the Bridge Construction Kit.
4 Place the Bridge over a river.
5 Wait for the next day.

1. Open Nook's Cranny

ACNH - Timmy asking the player if they have the required materials

To reach the point in the story where you can build a Bridge, the first step is to open the store: Nook's Cranny.

To get to this point in the story, you'll need to both pay back your initial loan of 5,000 Miles and collect resources like the hard-to-gather Iron Nuggets to fund the construction of Nook's Cranny.

How to Unlock Nook's Cranny

Use a Vaulting Pole instead early on

An alternative way to cross rivers at the start of the game is to use the Vaulting Pole.

How to Cross the River and Water

2. Get the Bridge Construction Kit Recipe from Tom Nook

ACNH - A DIY Recipe for Bridge Construction Kit
After Nook's Cranny is built, Tom Nook will give you the Housing Kits. He will also give you a Bridge Construction Kit DIY Recipe, asking you to place a Bridge.

3. Craft the Bridge Construction Kit

ACNH - A DIY Recipe for Log Stakes
Crafting the Bridge Construction Kit will allow you to place a single bridge. It will require Log Stakes, which the player will already have the DIY Recipe for.

Bridge Construction Kit Required Materials

Needed Materials Amount
Log Stakes ImageLog Stakes 4
Clay IconClay 4
Stone IconStone 4

4. Place the Bridge over a River

ACNH - A villager places a bridge on their island
Use the Bridge Construction Kit next to a River to build it. To see what it will look like before placing it, select "Let me imagine it."

At this point in the game, this is the only Bridge which can be built, so be sure to place it in an ideal spot!

5. Wait for the Next Day

ACNH - A bridge is completed
It will take a day for the bridge to be constructed. In one day of real-world time, your bridge will be up and ready for use!

Bridge Size and Where to Place It

All Bridge Types Have the Same Size

ACNH - A resident stands in front of three different bridge types

All bridges are 4 spaces wide. Even the log bridge that looks like 2 spaces wide actually takes up 4 spaces.

Your bridges can vary only through the width of the water.

Bridge Rules and Requirements

Here are important things to take note of when choosing a place to build your bridge.

  • Bridges will take up 4 spaces in width. You can build bridges over water that is 3-5 spaces wide.
  • The land on both sides of the bridge should have 4x1 spaces free and are of equal size.
  • You cannot build a bridge when there is a river or cliff nearby.
  • Bridges cannot be built directly next to each other.
  • Bridges can be built diagonally, as long as they follow the requirements above.

Bridges are 4 Spaces Wide and Can Be Built Over 3-5 Spaces of Water

Required Space for Water
ACNH - An image of a 4x3 river ACNH - An image of a 4x5 river

You need to have at least 4x3 space of water to build a bridge. You can also build a bridge over a river that is up to 5 spaces wide.

You cannot build that is less than 3 spaces and more than 5 spaces wide.

Land on Both Sides of the Bridge Must Have a Row of Free Space and Are Parallel

ACNH - A bridge cannot be built because of uneven land
There should be 1 row of free space on both sides of the bridge. Both sides of land must be equal, meaning the edges should be parallel to each other.

Bridges Cannot be Built When There is A River or Cliff Nearby

ACNH - A bridge is too close to the river

Bridges can't be built near rivers or cliffs. To ensure a successful construction, make sure that there is free space around the bridge boundaries.

You Cannot Build Bridges Next to Each Other

ACNH - A bridge too close to another bridge

Bridges can't be built next to each other.Each bridge should be at least 1 space apart.

Bridges Can Be Built Diagonally

ACNH - A diagonal bridge in a villager

Unlike inclines, you can actually build diagonal bridges, provided you follow the requirements above.

You can use the Island Designer app to make the river flow diagonally. When left with jagged corners, you can use the waterscaping permit to smoothen the edges of land.

How to Move and Destroy a Bridge

You Cannot Move a Bridge

Bridges and inclines cannot be moved after setting up their construction kits, so choose their location carefully.

How to Destroy a Bridge

ACNH - Demolishing a bridge

You can demolish an existing bridge by talking to Tom Nook about infrastructure. Destroying a bridge will cost you 10,000 Bells. After paying up, the bridge will be gone the next day.

Are Bridges Worth It?

ACNH - Village residents celebrate the construction of a bridge

Bridges lets you cross rivers without using the Vaulting Pole every time, making them super convenient. However, since land bridges can be constructed with the Island Designer app, we recommend saving up for Inclines first.

Inclines cannot be made with Island Designer, and are only available as infrastructure projects, making them more useful in the long run.

Each Bridge is a sizeable investment of 98,000 Bells or more. If you want to make this kind of change to your island, be sure to start saving up early!

Money Making Guide

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Comment

11 Anonymousalmost 3 years

Complicating this I have also found that from time to time the 'destroy' option doesn't appear in the menu where it ought to be even when you don't have a kit in your pockets. This is frustrating and probably some sort of odd occasional bug. I had to get a kit to mark a bridge and then return the kit to Tom Nook in order get the 'destroy' option back on the menu.

10 Anonymousalmost 3 years

There is something important not covered here. You cannot destroy a bridge if you have a bridge marker kit already. If you do have one already then you have to choose to not build it so that you no longer have the kit in your pockets. This is most likely a part of their choice to limit players to one infrastructure change per day.

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