Rating:
9 votes

Red Cliff Arch Bridge

Eagle County, Colorado
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Photos 

Overview

Photo taken by James Baughn

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Map 

Street Views 

Description 

Regarded as one of Colorado's most beautiful and iconic bridges, in a stunning and dramatic natural setting, spanning the Eagle River between two cliffs. It is one of the most photographed bridges in Colorado.

This bridge carries US 24 across the Eagle River, the Union Pacific Railroad, and Water Street which was the former alignment of US 24. It crosses directly above Water Street's own bridge over the railroad and the river.

View Uglybridges.com report

Facts 

Overview
Steel deck arch bridge over Eagle River, Union Pacific Railroad, and Water Street on US 24 at Red Cliff
Location
Red Cliff, Eagle County, Colorado
Status
Open to traffic
History
Built 1940; rehabilitated 2004
Design
Open spandrel steel deck arch
Dimensions
Length of largest span: 317.8 ft.
Total length: 471.0 ft.
Deck width: 29.8 ft.
Recognition
Posted to the National Register of Historic Places on February 4, 1985
Also called
US 24 Bridge
Approximate latitude, longitude
+39.50791, -106.37589   (decimal degrees)
39°30'28" N, 106°22'33" W   (degrees°minutes'seconds")
Approximate UTM coordinates
13/381713/4374046 (zone/easting/northing)
Quadrangle map:
Minturn
Inventory numbers
CDOT F-11-T (Colorado Dept. of Transportation structure number)
NRHP 85000204 (National Register of Historic Places reference number)
BH 11846 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Inspection (as of 09/2014)
Deck condition rating: Very Good (8 out of 9)
Superstructure condition rating: Very Good (8 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Very Good (8 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 76.6 (out of 100)
Average daily traffic (as of 2011)
2,100

Categories 

Arch (10,897)
Built 1940 (850)
Built during 1940s (3,344)
Colorado (561)
Deck arch (10,150)
Eagle County, Colorado (48)
Have street view (19,609)
NR-listed (2,822)
 Open (34,481)
Owned by state (12,525)
Red Cliff, Colorado (1)
Span length 250-500 feet (1,041)
Steel arch (332)
Total length 250-500 feet (4,257)
US 24 (46)

Update Log 

  • September 15, 2016: Updated by Roger Deschner: Added photos, description, street views
  • September 14, 2016: New photo from Roger Deschner
  • April 19, 2010: New Street View added by Nathan Holth

Related Bridges 

Sources 

  • Nathan Holth
  • Roger Deschner - rogerdeschner [at] gmail [dot] com
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Comments 

Red Cliff Arch Bridge
Posted January 15, 2010, by Chuck Callahan (chuckcallahan [at] mindspring [dot] com)

My Grandfather, John Callahan was one of the workers who helped build this bridge. Needless to say, it is quite a landmark for our family. We try to get there every couple of years. The bridge has been used for commercials on TV and featured a bungee jumper, falling off the bridge. We were there when they were filming and found they could not jump from the bridge, so they used a crane next to the bridge which with modern photography made it look as though the person was jumping from the bridge. We do have some photos of the bridge being built which were taken by my GF, but they are highly protected by my father. I will attempt to get them one day and make copies to post. They are very interesting pictures, some of which he took while working.

Chuck Callahan

Red Cliff Arch Bridge
Posted July 22, 2009, by Ralph & Bonnie (rwestend [at] msn [dot] com)

You have only one life to live, so see all you can by traveling west. Tresure it for the rest of you retirement.

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Red Cliff Arch Bridge
Posted November 4, 2008, by max (hollywoodmax [at] mail2world [dot] com)

I am doing a project on the red cliff and i cant find as much information as i need to

Red Cliff Arch Bridge
Posted September 29, 2008, by Kim Westendorf (wets4 [at] zoomtown [dot] com)

My husband Jim and I had to stop to admire and take some pics of this bridge when we visited Leadville August 2008. It was a little scary driving over. I will ask Jim to add the photos later.

Kim Westendorf

Cincinnati Ohio

Red Cliff Arch Bridge
Posted January 4, 2008, by Katharine Spigarelli (kspigarelli [at] gmail [dot] com)

I was in Colorado visiting my son. We wanted to make a trip to Leadville and in spite of the snow and wind, decided to try it. About 8 miles outside of Minturn, we decided we should turn back. There it was-- the beautiful Red Cliff Bridge. We didn't make it to Leadville, but we were lucky to get to see the beautiful bridge. I'm anxious to return in good weather so we can enjoy the view!

Sunday, December 30, 2007

Red Cliff Arch Bridge
Posted September 25, 2007, by Rob Bussard (rob [dot] bussard [at] peterson [dot] af [dot] mil)

Living a few hours away, we go over this bridge 2 -3 times a year on motorcycle trips.

It's a fantastic looking bridge, so as a pro photographer, I created a fine landscape photo of it in it's present condition.

Note my buddy's bike on his trailer behind the silver truck. He's on the left AND the right bridge deck.Gee, how'd that happen?

Enjoy!

Rob of the Springs, CO.

Red Cliff Arch Bridge
Posted September 7, 2007, by JO (bluedolphinsupply [at] gmail [dot] com)

Looking at this bridge makes our "bouncing" steel arch [deck pratt truss] seem ALOT safer and less scary!!! PS I rather enjoy the bouncing!!!!

Red Cliff Arch Bridge
Posted October 30, 2006, by Terry

We found this bridge on our way to Leadville. It is awsome and very scary to drive over.

Red Cliff Arch Bridge
Posted August 29, 2006, by Kelly

We accidentally found this beautiful little town, Red Cliff. And it was on the day of their Artist's Studio Tours. It is a gem and the bridge is beautiful. Must see. Have lunch at Mango's.

Red Cliff Arch Bridge
Posted October 18, 2005, by angela (tomboyforlife2005 [at] yahoo [dot] com)

I would be scared going over this bridge