Million Dollar Bridge, Railway bridge in Chugach Census Area, Alaska, United States

The Million Dollar Bridge is a railway bridge spanning 480 meters across Chugach Census Area, constructed from steel and concrete using truss engineering. The structure was built to carry heavy trains and connect the isolated region to other settlements.

The bridge was constructed in the early 1900s to access and connect copper mining districts in the region. It played a key role in opening this remote area to economic activity and settlement.

The nickname Million Dollar Bridge comes from its $1.4 million construction cost, which was recovered by the $200 million in copper ore shipped over the line. A 1958 plaque on the bridge notes that it crosses between the Childs and Miles glaciers. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 2000.

There is no road access: erosion of the Copper River Highway means the bridge can only be reached by jet boat up the Copper River or by boat downriver from Chitina. The repaired span, dedicated in 2005, carries a single lane. The damaged icebreaker at the first pier no longer shields it.

The truss design was innovative for its time and the extreme environment, showcasing advanced engineering techniques of the era. This solution allowed the weight of heavy trains to be distributed efficiently while managing material costs in this hard-to-reach location.