Rio Grande Gorge Bridge

Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
Nearest city Taos, NM
Coordinates 36°28′34.46″N 105°43′56.14″W / 36.4762389°N 105.7322611°W / 36.4762389; -105.7322611Coordinates: 36°28′34.46″N 105°43′56.14″W / 36.4762389°N 105.7322611°W / 36.4762389; -105.7322611
Built 1965
Architect Charles E. Reed, Chief Bridge Engineer; Herman Tachau, Principal Designer
Architectural style Other
MPS Historic Highway Bridges of New Mexico MPS
NRHP Reference # 97000733[1]
Added to NRHP July 15, 1997

The Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, locally known as the "Gorge Bridge" and the "High Bridge",[2] is a steel deck arch bridge across the Rio Grande Gorge 10 miles (16 km) northwest of Taos, New Mexico, United States. At 565 feet (172 m) above the Rio Grande,[3] it is the seventh highest bridge in the United States and 82nd highest bridge in the world.[4]

Construction

The bridge was started in 1963 and completed in 1965.[5] It was dedicated on September 10, 1965 and is a part of U.S. Route 64, a major east–west road. The span is 1,280 feet (390 m): two 300-foot-long (91 m) approach spans with a 600-foot-long (180 m) main center span.

Awards

In 1966 the American Institute of Steel Construction awarded the bridge "Most Beautiful Steel Bridge" in the "Long Span" category.[6]

Restoration

A $2.4 million "facelift" to the bridge was completed in September 2012. This year-long project included repair and restoration work to the 50-year-old bridge including structural steelwork, a new concrete deck surface, new sidewalks, ramps, curbs, and gutters.[5]

Suicide problem

The bridge has been the site of numerous suicides. Authorities are studying ways to prevent suicides there.[7][8]

The bridge has appeared in several films, including Natural Born Killers, Twins, White Sands, She's Having a Baby, The Signal (2014 film), Paul, Wild Hogs, and Terminator Salvation.

See also

References

  1. ↑ National Park Service (2007-01-23). "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service.
  2. ↑ "High Bridge Overlook on US 64 northwest of Taos"
  3. ↑ "Rio Grande Gorge Bridge"
  4. ↑ "List of 500 Highest International Bridges"
  5. 1 2 "Santa Fe New Mexican: Crews finish Rio Grande Gorge Bridge face-lift". Retrieved 8 October 2012.
  6. ↑ Prize Bridge : 1960's Winners
  7. ↑ State studies ways to prevent suicides at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
  8. ↑ Catalogue of Tears, Part 2
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