Recent Arizona Comments

In the first photo of the Ash bridge a railroad trestle is visible in the background next to Tempe Butte. The railroad bridge that exists today is to the west of the Ash bridge while the one in the photo is east of the Ash bridge. My question is... what is that railroad trestle for? There used to be a sand and gravel company that had tracks leading up to the river. Is that it?

I thought graffitti might be the appropriate paint job for Enochs Knob Road Bridge.....alas that one is not a success.

Re-discovered this bridge today, on a rainy day (YES!! RAINY in ARIZONA!!!) Sunday morning drive.

The bridge was (very) colorful.... as if its only purpose now is as a canvas for ill mannered juvinile gangsters. But the history of this bridge, it still could be felt... beneith all the tagging.

I couldnt help but to let my imagination take me back in time....to when the bridge was constructed. To the money, the plans, drafts, and hard work that men put into building this structure.

As a young person back in the 50's, I use to walk across this bridge. On the Tempe side of the bridge was the old rollerskating rink and next door was the local swimming pool. ASU at that time was a college, not a university. The town of Tempe was like the tv show Happy Days. Great times; Great memories!

This one lane bridge is the main income of the Quechan Indian Police. As the bridge changes traffic direction by traffic light and casino a block away, who would have guessed the source of repair funds in 2002...

The east side is designed for 4 autos to park, one "speeder" and 3 QIP vehicles. That's the typical take down procedure.

THIS IS A SPEED TRAP!

AZ**** = Alaska bridge number? Oops.

General Contractor was Edward Kraemer & Sons, Inc., Plain, WI. As a law student in the late 80's I was involved in a construction claim against ADOT regarding this structure.

Added Panorama photo link.

@Tony, ah yes, my commitment to a modest photo record did not include attempts at levitation.

*Marks this as a destination for a rock climbing adventure*

What Craig...no views from underneath? ;-)

This truly is a unique location and well worth the detour off the interstate. Photographing this bridge was the cap of a grand day of bridge hunting.

A fine example of a pony truss, but this setting is spectacular! Must-see.

Dear JR,

The bridge photo recently posted on the Glen Canyon Bridge page is actually a photo of Navajo Bridge. I am not sure if this photo is the "old" Navajo Bridge or the new one. Thanks for sharing a fantastic picture, I hope we can see it linked to the proper bridge.

It wouldn't help.

I'm sorry...but to me these rusty welded spans are just hideous. A new truss is better than a slab...but not by much.

Perhaps if they would paint these things in some nice bright primary colors it might help...maybe.

The design is referred to as a "Luten Arch". Here is a link to similar bridges on the site.

http://bridgehunter.com/category/builder/daniel-b-luten/

Who designed the 1916 bridge, which is on El Camino Veijo, right before Silver King road by the way.

Which others bridges did he design?

The road used to be called McLaws road from Holbrook to Winslow. Growing up in Joseph City we called it Chevelon road before the county put up the street signs. I'm not sure when the county changed the named from Winslow to the Joseph City road to Territorial Road.

Hector,

I would suggest contacting the Yuma County Board of Supervisors and perhaps the Public Works Department as well http://www.co.yuma.az.us/index.aspx?page=655&recordid=74 since they seem to be the main owner of the bridge. You might also contact the Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area http://www.yumaheritage.com/contactus.html since the bridge is part of their area of operation.

Hope this helps!

I hope this is the brag were it say Ocean to Ocean highway yuma. My comment Is that I see all kinds of constrution going on But I never see no one fix the i on highway. I been looking at this for a long time. I see all kinds of photos on day time. I hope I could send you some photos I toke at nigth time. I hope some day you all could fix the letter I . The soul of yuma. If you need help emailme. Is it to high for you guys. Thaks

I hope this is the brag were it say Ocean to Ocean highway yuma. My comment Is that I see all kinds of constrution going on But I never see no one fix the i on highway. I been looking at this for a long time. I see all kinds of photos on day time. I hope I could send you some photos I toke at nigth time. I hope some day you all could fix the letter I . The soul of yuma. If you need help emailme. Is it to high for you guys. Thaks

Even without the conveyor apparently on the bridge, I question whether this bridge would be drivable. When I visited a few years ago, the approaches were blocked off and gated, and there were trenches about three feet deep on either end of the concrete deck. "Somebody" obviously doesn't want anybody driving on this bridge, probably for good reason. I hiked in.

Its a beautiful bridge in a beautiful rocky setting. Its a pity Arizona doesn't have more historic bridges than it does, since the scenery is so unique and unlike that in other states which have more historic bridges... the Arizona scenery is refreshingly different.

Now that is an impressive use of concrete.

The non-historic bridge listed on this page is the bland replacement for a genuine historic bridge, seen here from the Historic Bridge Inventory.

There is now a conveyor of some sort placed on this bridge's deck. http://www.panoramio.com/photo/36018350 http://www.panoramio.com/photo/36018337

No points on the historic scale......but definitely one of the more unique structures I've seen.

Cool bridge, and easily overlooked. Good post.

When a new and significant bridge is opened it is really cool to be able to fly over it in a helicopter for photographs. This was a fun shoot.

I will be passing within a few miles of this bridge in November, I looks like it needs its' picture taken.

My late Grandpa Robert Sailer designed that bridge. I don't know much else about it as of course I was like a baby then but I remember many times being told how proud everyone was of him. I think if you will research you will find this was the first steel arch bridge over such a large expanse!

I still have pictures of it from when it was first built. Everytime I see arch bridges I think of him! Thanks for a cool website!

I live not far from the McPhaul Bridge. A few years ago, I took some digital pictures of it and sent them to some web site interested in historic bridges. Possibly it was this website; I do not remember. I was happy to see later than the pictures hade been included on the site.

Please let me know if you would like those or similar photos of the bridge. I have quite a lot, probably four or five dozen.

........And a National Register listed bridge at that!

Just goes to show you that NR listing really mean nothing as far as protection goes!!

A six span pony truss demolished in Arizona. That's a headline you won't ever see again. Not because Arizona has decided to preserve its truss bridges, but because I doubt there is another such bridge in the state.

The demolition of this bridge is ridiculous. The NBI report shows it wasn't even structurally deficient! At the very least, the bridge should either have been rehabilitated for continued vehicular use, or bypassed with a new bridge and left in place for pedestrian use. There is absolutely nothing around this bridge... plenty of room for a bypass.

Arizona is not exactly teeming with pony truss bridges with six or more spans. Actually, Arizona has one of the lowest numbers of surviving truss bridges (both per square mile and total number in state) in the entire country. The preservation of even a single span pony truss in Arizona should be considered important. The preservation of a six span pony truss should be of the highest priority.

This bridge is also quite unusual in that it is a high truss with NO sway bracing.

The portal bracing on this bridge makes me think that it might be a Kansas City Bridge Co. product.

Amazing how this bridge has withstood the test of time, and to think it will be 100 yrs old in 2012. Anyone knows if they will repaint or repair it, since it seems to be rusting out?

If you can provide some evidence of the 1912 construction date it would be very helpful.

I believe the arizona and eastern bridge was built in 1912.

Very much worth the drive! The setting is amazing. One note; Google maps shows McLaws running out to 99, but at the highway, it is called Territorial Rd, which cost us about 15 minutes.

Here is a shot of Glen Canyon

This bridge appears several times in a 1960 episode of the television series, "Route 66" entitled "Layout at Glen Canyon." The show first aired on November 2, 1960.

This is the old bridge from the Gila river crossing between Phx. and Tucson.

They trucked it all the way up here.

The bridge was rehabilitated in 2002 and is now opened to traffic.

Thank you for tell about Mill Avenue Bridge. I have photo of old and new bridge. Old bridge is south boundand open to traffic. Add new bridge is north bound and open in august 1985. THANK YOU.

Airport Road bridge over unknow creek near Benson, Az.

I have photo of truss bridge. it was open in 1920. it was closed traffic since 1980. wood floor was removed. it was damage by car and killed three teenage since summer 2000. policemen found many can of beer after 3:30 A.M. the truss bridge was lost. it is no longer to traffic.

THANK YOU.

Thank you for photo. I have photo of Park Avenue Bridge since August 25, 2005. it is open to traffic. it is narrow lane bridge. I like it.

THANK YOU.

It was collasped bridge by 33 ton truck since May 28, 2003. It was lost first Hereford Road Bridge. We heard from Arizona Star newspaper about 33 ton truck cross the old bridge. BOOM Driver was wound. Police officer gave ticket to driver. He was lost his job in Phoenix, Arizona few days later. It is new Second Hereford Bridge. It is new three pony truss bridges. It is open to traffic. I Will put photo new bridge on post bridge comment soon. Thank you.

Scheduled for replacement in 2010. open on traffic with weight limit two ton. no truck alloe on bridge.

This is call coast to coast bridge in Yuma, Arizona. This is retired bridge. It was closed to traffic since 1988. People will walk on the bridge any time.

This is call coast to coast bridge in Yuma, Arizona. This is retired bridge. It was closed to traffic since 1988. People will walk on the bridge any time.