New River Gorge Bridge

New River Gorge Bridge
Carries	US 19
Crosses	New River, CR 82 , CSX Transportation
Locale	Fayetteville, West Virginia,  United States
Maintained by	West Virginia Division of Highways
Design	Arch
Total length	3,030 ft (924 m)
Width	69.3 ft (21.1 m), 4 lanes with center divider
Longest span	1,700 ft (518.2 m)
Vertical clearance	Deck arch, unlimited clearance
Clearance below	876 ft (267 m)
AADT	16,200 vehicles/day[1]
Opened	October 22, 1977
Coordinates	38°04′15″N 81°04′48″W / 38.07083°N 81.08°W / 38.07083; -81.08Coordinates: 38°04′15″N 81°04′48″W / 38.07083°N 81.08°W / 38.07083; -81.08

The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel-arch bridge, near Fayetteville, West Virginia, United States. With a length of 3,030 feet (924 m), it was for many years the longest in the world of that type.^[2] Its arch extends 1,700 feet (518 m). Part of U.S. Route 19, it is crossed by an average of 16,200 motor vehicles per day.^[1] Its construction marked the completion of Corridor L.

The New River Gorge Bridge carries US 19 over the New River at a height of 876 feet (267 m), making it the highest vehicular bridge in the Americas, and the second-highest in the world. Before the 2004 opening of the Millau Viaduct in France, it was the highest in the world.^[3]

History

The old bridge, over 800 ft (244 m) below the canyon rim.

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.^{[citation needed]}

Many locals say, with little exaggeration, that completion of the bridge cut the travel time from one side of the gorge to the other from 45 minutes to 45 seconds.^[4]

Culture and jumping

The bridge is the centerpiece of Fayette County's "Bridge Day," during which the bridge is closed to vehicular traffic. Until recently, the bridge was half-open, with two way traffic. Security concerns have prompted the closing of the entire span to vehicles during the festival. This festival includes demonstrations of rappelling, ascending and BASE jumping, and is held every October on the third Saturday. Bungee jumping has been banned from Bridge Day since 1993. The bridge is within the New River Gorge National River and the National Park Service operates a visitor center at the northern end of the bridge with scenic overlooks and a staircase that descends partially into the gorge.

BASE jumper Brian Lee Schubert, 66, of Alta Loma, California, died during Bridge Day 2006 (October 21) when his parachute did not open in time.^[5] He was pronounced dead at the scene. His death was the first that occurred during BASE jumping at the New River Gorge Bridge Day Festival since 1987, and only the third ever. One other BASE jumper was killed while performing an illegal, non-Bridge Day related jump.

Gallery

The West Virginia state quarter, released in 2005, features this bridge	View from the overlook	National Park Service photo from the Visitors Center	Close-up of the bridge supports
Walkway to observation area near the Visitors Center	The New River Gorge Bridge as seen from a small fixed wing airplane.

References and notes

See also

• List of bridges in the United States by height
• Midland Trail, a nearby a National Scenic Byway nearby
• New River Gorge National River, the park surrounding the bridge
• State Quarters

External links

• Bridge Day (official site)
• New River Gorge Bridge at Bridges & Tunnels
• New River Gorge Bridge at Roads to the Future
• New River Gorge Bridge in the Structurae database