Pulga Bridges, Railway and road bridges in Butte County, California.
The Pulga Bridges include a steel arch highway bridge carrying State Route 70 and a three-span through-truss railroad bridge crossing the North Fork Feather River. Together, these two structures allow both road and rail traffic to pass over the river in this mountainous terrain.
The railroad bridge was completed in 1909 by the Western Pacific Railroad to create a gentle route across the Sierra Nevada. The highway bridge followed in 1932 and extended transportation connections for the newly developed State Route 70.
The bridges form part of the Feather River Scenic Byway, a 130-mile route that winds through the Sierra Nevada mountains and attracts railroad enthusiasts.
Access is via State Route 70, which runs directly over the highway bridge and offers good vantage points for viewing. The site is best visited during daylight when lighting and shadow conditions make the structures clear.
The highway bridge was built with reverse curves and a twisting superelevation, creating unusual geometry for this structure. This design was necessary to manage the steeper grade changes of the terrain while maintaining safe driving conditions.
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