Bidwell Bar Bridge
Photos
Bidwell Bar Suspension Bridge
Bidwell Bar Suspension Bridge
Photo taken by Larry Matthews on June 17, 2013
BH Photo #256807
Facts
- Overview
- Suspension bridge over Middle Fork Feather River on CA 162 in Oroville East
- Location
- Oroville East, Butte County, California
- Status
- Open to traffic
- History
- Built 1965
- Design
- Wire suspension
- Dimensions
-
Length of largest span: 1,108.0 ft.
Total length: 1,793.1 ft.
Deck width: 27.9 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 29.0 ft.
- Approximate latitude, longitude
- +39.54987, -121.42988 (decimal degrees)
39°32'60" N, 121°25'48" W (degrees°minutes'seconds") - Approximate UTM coordinates
- 10/634904/4378976 (zone/easting/northing)
- Quadrangle map:
- Oroville Dam
- Average daily traffic (as of 2004)
- 1,500
- Inventory numbers
- CA 12-188 (California bridge number)
BH 10812 (Bridgehunter.com ID) - Inspection report (as of August 2017)
- Overall condition: Good
Superstructure condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 52.1 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com
Update Log
- November 8, 2017: New photo from Christopher Finigan
- December 30, 2016: Updated by Christopher Finigan: Added category "Not structurally deficient"
- August 21, 2016: Updated by Christopher Finigan: Added category "Painted green"
- October 17, 2014: New photos from Patrick S. O'Donnell
- June 19, 2013: New photos from Larry Matthews
- August 4, 2011: New photo from Larry Matthews
- November 15, 2010: New photos from Michael Goff
- November 13, 2010: New photo from Craig Philpott
- March 11, 2010: Updated by Craig Philpott: Added street view
- June 20, 2009: Updated by Larry Matthews
- March 3, 2008: Updated by Larry Matthews
- February 16, 2008: New photo from Larry Matthews
Sources
- Larry Matthews
- Craig Philpott - craigphilpott63 [at] gmail [dot] com
- Mike Goff - michael [dot] goff [at] hotmail [dot] com
- Wikipedia
- Christopher Finigan
- Patrick S. O'Donnell - 1 [dot] 991km [at] comcast [dot] net
Comments
Dramatic photo of the Bidwell Bar Bridge surrounded by a raging wildfire. https://www.nytimes.com/2020/09/09/us/fires-washington-calif...
Larry,
That is an impressive photo of the bridge from the time before the lake was filled! Imagine how different that same shot would look today if the lake were drained.
Craig,
I use to go down into California quite often when I was still playing hockey. I injured myself and transfered to a hockey rinkless town, so I had to give it up. (I actually played my last game at the Snoopy Rink in Santa Rosa)
My grandmother lives in Red Bluff, so I do get down that way every once in a while. Her and my wife wanted to go to the casino in Oroville. Not being a gambler, I droped them off and spent some time at the Bidwell Bar Bridge.
Great pictures Michael, one of these weekends you and I may run into each other, good to see you down in California.
This page's URL is http://bridgehunter.com/ca/butte/120188/
Despite the raging fires near it, seen in dramatic AP photos, apparently the Bidwell Bar suspension bridge is being protected and carefully kept open, for use by both firefighters and evacuees.
A horrible tragedy is unfolding in CA, OR, WA. Many historic bridges have been lost, but I can't be sad about them yet while so many lives are now endangered. We'll survey and report on the bridges when the fires are out. It's great to hear of one of them, Bidwell Bar Bridge, serving a great purpose and saving lives.