|
Information:
The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. When complete and with an arch 1,700 feet long, the New River Gorge Bridge was the world′s longest single-span arch bridge, holding that title for 26 years. Currently, in 2022, it is the fifth longest and the longest except for in China. An average of 16,200 motor vehicles cross the bridge each day.
The roadway of the New River Gorge Bridge, when completed in 1977, was 876 feet above the water of the New River below and was the highest bridge carrying a regular roadway in the world. That title remained on the New River Gorge bridge until 2001, when the Liuguanghe Bridge in China was opened. Now, it is the third highest in the United States.
In 2005, the structure gained additional attention when the US Mint issued the West Virginia state quarter with the bridge depicted on one the reverse. In 2013, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The clearance above the water, 876 feet is 325 feet higher than the Washington Monument. The New River Bridge is the highest bridge east of the Mississippi, and second highest in the nation, with the Royal Gorge Bridge over the Arkansas River being the highest, with a clearance below of 995 feet.
Jumpers:
Due to its height, the bridge has attracted daredevils ever since its construction. It is now the centerpiece of the annual Bridge Day, during which hundreds of people, with appropriate equipment, are permitted to climb on or jump from the bridge.
National Park:
The New River Bridge, the river and much of the Gorge was first established in 1978 as a National River, but in 2020, it was redesignated as a National Park. Of the 423 units in the National Park Service, there are 63 which hold the title of National Park of which the New River National Park is the newest.
Driving Directions:
The bridge is located on US highway 19 nort of Fayetteville, West Virginia and is reached easily from IH 64, IH 77, IH 79 and US 19 highways.
Location:
Coordinates:
38.0664189, -81.0873244
Elevation:
1689 feet
Bridge Specification
Bridge Type:
Steel Arch Concrete Deck Bridge
Date Construction:
June 1974
Date Open:
22 October 1977
Replaced:
Fayette Station Bridge
Total Length:
3030 feet
Deck Width:
69.3 feet
Main Span Length:
1700 feet;
Total Height:
876 feet
Crosses:
New River
Clearance Above:
(Vehicle Clearance) Open.
Clearance Below:
(Vessel Clearance) about 870 feet.
Cost to Build:
$37 million ($4 million over bid)
equal to $131 million in 2021
Construction Specifications:
Structural Steel: Cor-ten, 22,000 tons
Reinforcing Steel: 1,700 tons
Superstructure Concrete: 6,000 cubic yards
Substructure Concrete: 17,000 cubic yards
Total Weight: 88 million pounds
| 
