John O'Connell Bridge

The John O'Connell Bridge is a road bridge in Sitka that spans across Sitka Channel and connects Baranof Island to Japonski Island using a cable-stayed girder design. The structure stretches approximately 1,255 feet and carries traffic between these two islands.

The structure was completed in 1972 and marked a milestone as the first cable-stayed girder span bridge constructed in the United States. Its construction represented an important moment in American bridge engineering and Sitka's regional development.

Named after a former Sitka mayor, the bridge shapes the local skyline and appears frequently in regional photographs. It connects two islands in a way that has become woven into the daily rhythm of people living here.

The bridge is open to vehicle traffic daily and provides access to important facilities including the airport and medical services. Pedestrians can cross it and get good views of the channel and surrounding islands along the way.

Engineers Roy Peratrovich Jr. and Dennis Nottingham designed the structure to withstand Alaska's earthquakes and harsh weather using innovative techniques. This design choice made the project a technical model for bridge building in seismically active regions.

Location: Alaska

Official opening: 1972

GPS coordinates: 57.04782,-135.34054

Latest update: December 12, 2025 09:03