Old Trails Bridge – Wikipedia

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Bridge over the Colorado River, US

United States historic place

Old Trails Bridge
Trails Arch Bridge.jpg

Old Trails Bridge in September 2002
Location Abandoned US 66 over the Colorado River, south of Tiprock, Arizona
United States
Coordinates

34°42′57″N 114°29′5″W / 34.71583°N 114.48472°W / 34.71583; -114.48472Coordinates: 34°42′57″N 114°29′5″W / 34.71583°N 114.48472°W / 34.71583; -114.48472
Area 0.3 acres (0.12 ha)
Built 1915-16
Built by Sourwine, S.A.; Et al.
Architectural style Brace-ribbed through arch
MPS Vehicular Bridges in Arizona MPS
NRHP reference No. 88001676[1]
Added to NRHP September 30, 1988

The Old Trails Bridge is a historic bridge over the Colorado River in San Bernardino County and Mohave County in the United States, that is listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP).[1] It has also been known as Topock Bridge and as Needles Bridge.[2][3]

Description and history[edit]

View of the Old Trails Bridge in the 1920s, from Arizona

The bridge carried a now-abandoned section of the former U.S. Route 66 across from southeast of Needles, California to south of Toprock, Arizona. It is a brace-ribbed through arch bridge that was built in 1915–1916.[4] It served as a highway bridge until 1947 when the Red Rock Bridge, formerly a railroad bridge, was modified for highway use. The Old Trails Bridge was later converted to a pipeline bridge.

It was listed on the NRHP on September 30, 1988.[1][4]

The bridge has been seen in a number of blockbuster films including The Grapes of Wrath and Easy Rider.

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b c

    “National Register Information System”. National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.

  2. ^ “CHS.J3009”. digital.denverlibrary.org. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  3. ^ “Old Trails Arch Bridge”. Bridgehunter.com. Retrieved 2023-01-21.
  4. ^ a b Clayton B. Fraser (April 1, 1987). “HABS/HAER Inventory: Old Trails Bridge / Topock Bridge / Needles Bridge”. National Park Service. and accompanying photos

External links[edit]