The New River Gorge Bridge

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For many years The New River Gorge Bridge was the longest bridge of it’s type in the world. It is a steel-arch bridge, near Fayetteville, West Virginia. With a length of 3,030 feet, it is still the largest in the United States. It is now the third largest arch bridge in the world Its arch extends 1,700 feet. The longest arch bridge in the world is The Chaotianmen Bridge, which spans the Yangtze River in Chongqing, China

The New River Gorge Bridge is part of U.S. Route 19, it is crossed by an average of 16,200 motor vehicles per day. Its construction marked the completion of Corridor L. In 2005, the structure was further immortalized when a depiction of the span was placed on the West Virginia state quarter.

The New River Gorge Bridge carries US 19 over the New River at a height of 876 feet, making it the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas, and the fifth highest in the world. Before the 2004 opening of the Millau Viaduct in France, it was the highest in the world. Several suspension bridges in China have since surpassed them. The current record holder is the Si Du River Bridge which opened in November 2009 and currently has 1,549 feet of clearance above the river of that name.

Construction began on the bridge in June 1974, and completed on October 22, 1977. It was designed by the Michael Baker Company, under the direction of Chief Engineer Clarence V. Knudsen, and executed by U.S. Steel’s American Bridge Division. Final cost of construction was $37 million (approximately $4 million over bid). It is made from COR-TEN steel. The use of COR-TEN in construction presented several challenges; notable among them was ensuring that the weld-points weathered at the same rate as the rest of the steel. Locals say, that completion of the bridge cut the travel time from one side of the gorge to the other from 45 minutes to 45 seconds.

New river gorge bridge west virginia
The New River Gorge Bridge, West Virginia


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Holte Ender

Holte Ender will always try to see your point of view, but sometimes it is hard to stick his head that far up his @$$.
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kimberly
12 years ago

This is one of the most beautiful pictures of the bridge I seen in a long time. I go there every year in October and love the view!!

13 years ago

Yea, WVians are proud of their bridge. I took a snotty assed yankee over to see it and the general area back in the 90s and his snide response was “uh yea, nice bridge ya got there.”

Of note is the fact that one day a year they shut it down and let people jump off it (with parachutes, bungees, etc.) and walk around on it. One of these days somebody is gonna go over without an air braking mechanism. They call it “Bridge Day.”

thejeanmachine
13 years ago

I have been there and it is every bit as beautiful as the picture portrays.

Admin
13 years ago

It is gorgeous indeed 🙂

13 years ago

It’s stunning. And such great info. I’m shocked I have not run across it! ty Holte.
🙂

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