Antelope Hill Highway Bridge, bridge in United States of America
The Antelope Hill Highway Bridge is a concrete bridge crossing the Gila River in Tacna, Arizona. Built as a twin concrete girder structure with ten spans and nearly 1000 feet in length, it was designed to connect the route between Yuma and Phoenix when completed in 1915.
Construction began in 1914 with completion in 1915, utilizing prison labor from the Arizona State Penitentiary. Major floods in 1919 and 1920 severely damaged the structure, prompting officials to establish a new route through Gila Bend with a different bridge, after which this crossing was abandoned by 1929.
The bridge is no longer accessible by vehicle but can be reached on foot via Roll Road if visitors are prepared for rough conditions and dry terrain. No facilities such as restrooms or parking are available nearby, so visitors should bring water and check for flooding conditions before approaching.
This is one of only three remaining twin concrete girder bridges in Arizona and was constructed using labor from the Arizona State Penitentiary. The unusual dual concrete beam design represented an innovative structure for its time, showcasing early experiments with concrete in early 20th-century bridge engineering.
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