Spanning the Grand Canyon

Replacement of a bridge across the Grand Canyon challenged engineers to create a design in keeping with the area's beauty, history and protected environment. Their answer was to build a 616 ft, braced-spandrel, three-hinged steel arch, similar in style to the historic bridge it will replace. The new Navajo Bridge is being positioned 150 ft downriver from its older counterpart. Grand Canyon National Park, Glen Canyon National Recreation Area, the Navajo Indian Reservation and recreational rafters on the Colorado River all played a part in the bridge's construction. The vitally important transportation link provides area residents, tourists and commercial interests with the only Grand Canyon crossing for 40 mi in one direction and 340 mi in the other direction.