Well, this blog is not really from Lee’s Ferry, AZ, but it is the closest place on the map to where I took this photo. These bridges are called Navajo Bridge. Yes, there are two of them, but it is always just referred to as a single bridge. It spans the Colorado River upstream from the Grand Canyon. This is the last photo I took on my recent two week journey to Yuma, then on up into Southern Utah. The first week I spent with my son in Yuma and had a marvelous time. I am a very lucky father to have a son like Eric.
The second week of my trip took me north to Las Vegas, then northeast to Zion National Park. The main purpose of this trip was to photograph the autumn colors in Zion. Well, to be honest, that was a major disappointment. I was joined by my friend and fellow photographer Dave Forster from Wenatchee. I was shocked to see so many green trees among the few disappointing yellow-colored trees. Many of them went from green directly to ugly brown. And red trees were absent completely. We did find some interesting color up in the high country of Zion, but not much. I will share some of those shots in the near future.
From there, we went east and north…first for a brief stop at Bryce Canyon, then down to the Escalate area along Highway 12. There, we took a right turn and headed down Hole-In-The-Rock Road…an all dirt rough road built by Mormon settlers that is 55 miles long. Our trip was only 39 miles as our destination was Dance Hall Rock. We were there to photograph the trees and plants that grow in deep holes on top of the big rock. You will see some of those photos in the near future.
We spent that night recovering our sore backs and bottoms at Ruby’s Inn just outside Bryce. The next day we headed back toward Zion, but instead took a different road up to Cedar Breaks National Monument at 10,350 feet. There was two feet of snow on the ground, but we hiked through it to get a few photos. It was my first visit to that park and well worth falling in the snow twice. Will also have a photo from that park in the near future.
From there, I started my trip back to Tucson, stopping in Flagstaff for the night to rest my weary bones. Dave stayed at Zion to meet up with another friend. The following day they hiked through the Virgin River up intoThe Narrows, a beautiful slot canyon that starts where the road ends in Zion Canyon. That hike is entirely through water and I am far too old to make that trip, which is all too sad. Maybe in the next life.
But that brings me to the above photo. Navajo Bridge is located on Highway 89A in Northern Arizona. It is the highway you take to visit the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. 89A starts and ends on US Highway 89…which starts in Flagstaff and ends in Montana.
Prior to the construction of the first Navajo Bridge, the only river crossing from Arizona to Utah was at nearby Lee's Ferry, where the canyon walls are low and getting vehicles onto the water is relatively convenient. The ferry offered only unreliable service, however, as adverse weather and flooding regularly prevented its operation. Today, Lee’s Ferry is the starting point for rafting trips along the Colorado River through Grand Canyon.
Construction of the original Navajo Bridge (the one on the right) began in 1927, and the bridge opened to traffic in 1929. The bridge is 834 feet in length, with a height of 467 feet from the canyon floor. In 1990, it was decided that the traffic flow was too great for the original bridge, and that a new solution was needed. The sharp corners in the roadway on each side of the bridge's approach had become a safety hazard due to low visibility…and the deficiency in the original design's width and load capacity specifications were becoming problematic. By this time, the bridge had also become part of U.S. Route 89A..
Deciding on a solution was difficult, due to the many local interests. Issues included preservation of sacred Navajo land, endangered plant species in Marble Canyon, and the possibility of construction pollution entering the river. The original proposal called for merely widening and fortifying the bridge, but this was ultimately rejected since this could not possibly bring it up to current federal highway standards. Replacement was then the only option, and it was decided to discontinue automobile use of the original bridge. The new bridge was built next to the original and retains a similar visual appearance, but conforms to modern highway codes. It officially opened in 1995.
The original Navajo Bridge is still open to pedestrian and equestrian use, and an interpretive center has been constructed nearby to showcase the historical nature of the bridge and early crossing of the Colorado River. If you look close, you can see this center on the far side of the bridge. Bungee jumpers are frequently seen using the span. The original bridge has been designated as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark.
Well, there you have it, a quick summation of my recent trip and the history of the Navajo Bridge. I will be sharing more photos from the trip in the very near future so stay tuned!
No comments:
Post a Comment