1934+1996 US-60+AZ-77 Bridges over Salt River in Arizona

(Bridge Hunter broke Mar 22, 2023; Satellite)

Aerial View via azmemory

arizona
"The Salt River Canyon Bridge spans one of the most dramatic canyons in Arizona.  It was funded by the Public Works Administration, designed in 1933 by architect Lee Moor, and completed in June 1934.  The bridge is a single-span steel arch.  The design of the bridge approach was highly complex because of the multiple curvatures.  Its Art Deco superstructure shines in the sunlight and is still one of Arizona's most visibly striking, engineered structures.  Today the bridge carries only pedestrian traffic; a newer, wider version that sits adjacent handles automobile and truck traffic on Highway 60."

Gribblenation posted

Pictured is the then new Salt River Bridge of US Route 60 as seen on the cover of the July 1934 volume of Arizona Highways.  

When US Route 60 was extended through Arizona to California during 1931 it temporarily followed the entirety of Arizona State Route 73 (now BIA Route 9 south of Fort Apache).  This temporary routing was necessary due to work on the permanent alignment of US Route 60 through Salt River Canyon also having only begun during 1931.  The original Salt River Bridge would be completed during 1934 but the remainder of the highway towards Show Low took several more years to finish.

Upon the completion of the Globe-Show Low Highway during 1938 US Route 60 was moved to the routing it now occupies.  Arizona State Route 77 was also extended south from to Oracle Junction by way of the Globe-Show Low Highway and Salt River Bridge.  The 1934 Salt River Bridge was replaced by a modern span during 1996.   The 1934 Salt River Bridge still stands next to the structure which replaced it.

Mark David Moore: I actually stopped here in September 2021, and liked this area better than the Grand Canyon partly because I did not have to pay a $35 entrance fee.

Michael Adkins commented on the above post
The old bridge this May, with a bit of the new bridge behind it.

Michael Adkins commented on the above post
...and a wider shot showing both bridges along with the Salt River beneath them.

Michael Adkins commented on the above post
Now

The bridges are in the middle foreground of this photo.

Street View, Aug 2022

I found the bridge by tracing US-60 between Show Low and Globe looking for the river. On my second pass, I noticed the road wiggled a lot in one spot, so I zoomed in. Indeed, it wiggled because the road was going into the Salt River Canyon. This area is even more of a wilderness than West Virginia in terms of not having any nearby towns. The Theodore Roosevelt Dam is downstream from here.

Satellite

I recognize Salt River as the one that Tempe, AZ, dams so the residents can see what water looks like.

Vijay pentapati via Dennis DeBruler

gribblenation blog post
The bridge was replaced in 1993.

 

GlobeMiamiTimes, Photo by Patti Daley
"With a single 162-foot arch span and seven shorter steel girder approach spans, the Salt River Canyon Bridge was the first girder-ribbed steel arch undertaken by AHD, and became their standard. Queen Creek and Pinto Creek have similar designs."
[This source provides a 1966 date for the replacement bridge.]
"Painted red and adorned with Apache symbols, Apache Bridge (aka New Salt River Bridge) now carries traffic on U.S. 60.  Salt River Canyon Bridge remains open for foot traffic and the site serves as a popular put-in for whitewater rafters. After a three to five day trip down the wild and scenic Salt River, rafters arrive at their takeout point, with another historic bridge, and popular photo backdrop."

 

Photo via cacreeks
[This webpage describes a rafting trip down the river.].

 

A blog post about the geology you pass when you raft the river.

And this is why rafters get out of the river at the AZ-288 Bridge. The sign on the bridge in this photo says the following in English and, I presume, Spanish: "Danger Falls Ahead    Exit Left Bank."

DarrensRides

Actually, the falls appears to be a diversion dam.

Satellite

azdot_filigree
"a two-hinged steel deck arch design"

azdot_recipes