Admiral Clarey Bridge, Road bridge in Pearl Harbor, Hawaii
The Admiral Clarey Bridge runs 4,672 ft (1,424 m) from Oahu to Ford Island in Pearl Harbor, its flat concrete deck carried on slender piers, with a 930 ft (280 m) pontoon span that retracts beneath the fixed bridge. The deck is 13 m wide, and an elevated span leaves a 100 ft wide, 30 ft high opening for smaller craft. It was designed by Parsons Brinckerhoff Quade & Douglas and built by Dillingham-Manson.
Completed in 1998, the bridge replaced two diesel-powered ferries that once served as the only transportation link to Ford Island for military personnel. This structure modernized access to the island.
The bridge is named after Admiral Bernard A. Clarey, one of the U.S. Navy's most decorated officers. Since Ford Island remains a military housing area, the crossing is also used for events such as the 10k Bridge Run, when runners take over the roadway.
Access to the bridge requires a valid military identification card, as it is located within a secured naval base. Plan time for security checks when entering the facility.
The central section includes a floating moveable span of about 280 meters that retracts underneath the fixed portion to allow large naval vessels to pass through. This clever design lets the bridge serve both vehicle traffic and naval operations.
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