New River Gorge Bridge Near Sunset
by Susan Rissi Tregoning
Title
New River Gorge Bridge Near Sunset
Artist
Susan Rissi Tregoning
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
The New River Gorge Bridge as it nears sunset.
The New River Gorge Bridge is a continuous-span, open-spandrel; arch-truss bridge with an overall length of 3,030 feet, 6 inches. From the time it opened in 1977 through 2003, the bridge held the title of the longest steel arch bridge in the world. It is still the longest single-span steel arch in the United States, and at 876 feet above the New River, it is the third-highest bridge in the country. While the bridge's design is relatively conventional, the enormous scale of the project in what at the time was a remote Appalachian location at the time made it an engineering marvel. It has been a tremendous boon for the local economy, turning what was once a 45-minute treacherous drive down a one-lane road into the gorge and back up into a fast crossing.
In 2020 the New River Gorge National River became our newest National Park, making it one of the latest additions to America's impressive collection of protected natural wonders. Now the New River Gorge National Park and Preserve, one of the most iconic features of this newly designated national park, is undoubtedly this spectacular bridge. The towering structure is an architectural marvel amidst nature's grandeur, spanning over the New River Gorge in Fayetteville, West Virginia.
Copyright 2023 Susan Rissi Tregoning
Uploaded
July 24th, 2023
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