Susitna River Bridge, Railway truss bridge in Matanuska-Susitna Borough, United States.
The Susitna River Bridge is a railway crossing built with a steel truss design that spans across the river in Alaska. The structure consists of two side-by-side Howe truss sections that work together to support the bridge deck above the water.
The American Bridge Company built this crossing between 1920 and 1921 as part of the government railway expansion in Alaska. The project created a crucial link in the railroad network that was being developed across the territory.
The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1977 because it represents how railway connections shaped transportation development in Alaska. Today visitors can see how the steel structure reflects the role of engineering in opening up remote regions.
The structure sits about 150 miles north of Anchorage and remains in active use by the Alaska Railroad Corporation for train transport. Visitors should be aware that the bridge primarily serves rail operations and viewing requires caution and awareness of train movements.
During construction, heated sand and gravel were used in the concrete to prevent freezing during pouring operations. This unusual technique reflects the special challenges builders faced when working in Alaska's extreme cold conditions.
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