Rainbow Bridge, Steel cantilever bridge in Port Arthur, Texas
Rainbow Bridge is a steel cantilever structure that stretches 7752 feet (2363 meters) across the Neches River in Texas, with a clearance of 176 feet (54 meters) above tidal waters. The design connects Port Arthur with Orange and features a main span of 680 feet (207 meters) between the two primary piers.
Construction began in the 1930s during the expansion of the petrochemical industry and was completed in 1938 using Federal Public Works Administration funds. Financing came from federal grants and bonds issued by the two participating counties.
The name comes from a Lions Club contest in 1957 that invited public participation in identifying this key crossing between two counties. The span connects two different communities and is used daily by commuters, trucks, and travelers moving between the two banks of the river.
The crossing is open to traffic around the clock and provides a direct route between two counties without detours through side roads. Regular maintenance and inspections ensure that the route remains safe to travel.
At opening, the roadbed was the highest above tidal waters anywhere in the world and was meant to allow passage for large Navy vessels. The design was planned to let ships carrying moored dirigibles pass underneath.
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