Maintained by Alaska Railroad Clearance below 90 m Longest span 280 m Carry Alaska Railroad | Opened 15 August 1921 Bridge type Arch bridge | |
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Crosses Hurricane Gulch (tributary of Chulitna River) Width 8 ft (2.4 m), 1 track with a walkway on one side Similar Mears Memorial Bridge, Denali Depot, Anchorage Depot, Denali State Park, Ship Creek - Alaska | ||
Not to be confused with the road bridge of the same name.
Contents
The Hurricane Gulch Bridge is a 918 ft (280 m) long steel arch railroad bridge that crosses Hurricane Gulch, Alaska. It is located at milepost 284.2, counting from Seward. At 296 ft above the Hurricane creek, it is both the longest and tallest bridge on the entire Alaska Railroad. Many of Alaska Railroad's passenger routes pass over this bridge including the Denali star, the Aurora winter and the flag-stop Hurricane Turn, in addition to freight routes.
Hurricane gulch bridge
Construction
Construction of this bridge by the American Bridge Company began in early 1921. The first steel was erected in June, and the first passenger train operated on August 15 of the same year. It was the most difficult and expensive bridge project on the railroad, and cost $1.2 million. To built it, the company strung an aerial tram across the gulch, and construction proceeded from both sides simultaneously. For eight years, this was the tallest bridge in the US.
