Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
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Nearest city | Taos, NM |
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Coordinates | Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found. |
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]
Contents
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]
In popular culture
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.[citation needed]
Gallery
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Rio Grande Gorge bridge, 1970.jpg
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge, 1970 -
Rio Grande Gorge Bridge Plaques.jpg
Dedication plaques at bridge, 2008 -
Rio grande gorge.jpg
View from bridge, 2006 -
Rio grande gorge rainbow.JPG
View of bridge and rainbow, 2006
See also
- National Register of Historic Places listings in Taos County, New Mexico
- List of bridges in the United States by height
References
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External links
Media related to Rio Grande Gorge Bridge at Wikimedia Commons
- ↑ Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ "High Bridge Overlook on US 64 northwest of Taos"
- ↑ "Rio Grande Gorge Bridge"
- ↑ "List of 500 Highest International Bridges"
- ↑ 5.0 5.1 Lua error in package.lua at line 80: module 'strict' not found.
- ↑ Prize Bridge : 1960's Winners
- ↑ State studies ways to prevent suicides at the Rio Grande Gorge Bridge
- ↑ Catalogue of Tears, Part 2
- Pages with broken file links
- Pages with reference errors
- Articles with unsourced statements from February 2013
- Bridges completed in 1965
- Bridges on the National Register of Historic Places in New Mexico
- Buildings and structures in Taos County, New Mexico
- Deck arch bridges
- Rio Grande
- Road bridges in New Mexico
- Transportation in Taos County, New Mexico
- Visitor attractions in Taos County, New Mexico