Gillespie Dam Bridge
NRHP registered place in Maricopa County, Arizona / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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The Gillespie Dam Bridge (sometimes referred to as the Gillespie Dam Highway Bridge) is a through truss bridge spanning the Gila River in Maricopa County, in the U.S. state of Arizona. The bridge was constructed to bypass a concrete apron through the river in front of the Gillespie Dam, which was often closed due to flooding. Construction of the bridge started in 1925 and completed in 1927. From its opening until 1956, the bridge was part of U.S. Route 80 (US 80), a transcontinental highway between San Diego, California and Tybee Island, Georgia. The bridge was restored in 2012 by Maricopa County for the Arizona Centennial and now includes an educational interpretive center for visitors. The bridge became part of Historic US 80 in 2018.
Gillespie Dam Bridge | |
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Coordinates | 33.227261°N 112.769413°W / 33.227261; -112.769413 |
Carries | Old US 80 Highway Historic US 80[1] |
Crosses | Gila River |
Locale | Maricopa County, Arizona, US |
Named for | Gillespie Dam |
Owner | Maricopa County, Arizona[1] |
Maintained by | Maricopa County Department of Transportation (MCDOT) |
Inventory No. | 08021[1] |
Characteristics | |
Design | Through truss bridge |
Material | Steel[1] |
Pier construction | Concrete[1] |
Total length | 1,662 ft (507 m)[1] |
Width | 25 ft (8 m)[1] |
Longest span | 336 ft (102 m)[1] |
No. of spans | 9[1] |
Piers in water | 8 |
History | |
Designer | Ralph Hoffman |
Constructed by | Lee Moor Construction Company[1] |
Construction start | January 1926 |
Construction end | August 1927 |
Construction cost | $320,000 ($4.52 million as of 2023[2]) |
Opened | August 21, 1927 |
Rebuilt | 2011–2012 |
Replaces | Gillespie Dam auto apron Antelope Hill Highway Bridge |
Replaced by | SR 85 bridges over the Gila River |
Gillespie Dam Bridge | |
Nearest city | Arlington, Arizona |
Coordinates | 33°13′38″N 112°46′09″W |
Area | 0.72 acres (0.29 ha) |
Built | 1927 (1927) |
Built by | Lee Moor Construction Company, Arizona Highway Department |
MPS | Vehicular Bridges in Arizona MPS |
NRHP reference No. | 81000136[3] |
Added to NRHP | May 5, 1981 |
Location | |