Perrine Bridge, Steel arch bridge in Twin Falls, US.
The I. B. Perrine Bridge is a four-lane steel truss arch bridge over the Snake River Canyon just north of Twin Falls, Idaho. Its total length is about 457 meters, with a main span of 303 meters, and its deck stands 148 meters above the Snake River. The dark steel structure has a flat deck carried on a single great arch, with vertical and diagonal trusses forming an open lattice of triangular girders.
The first crossing here, the Twin Falls–Jerome Intercounty Bridge, opened in September 1927 as a privately financed steel cantilever span, dedicated by Governor H. C. Baldridge on October 1; tolls ended in April 1940 after Idaho bought it. The current four-lane truss arch bridge was built from May 1973 to July 1976 for $10.56 million and dedicated on July 31, 1976; the old span to the west was later disassembled.
Named after a developer who introduced irrigation projects to southern Idaho in the early twentieth century, the structure honors efforts to transform the region economically. Today it serves as a viewing platform where visitors gather to watch basejumpers leap from the deck.
A visitor center at the southwest end offers regional information and access to trails along the canyon rim. Pedestrian walkways on both sides allow views of the river and surrounding landscape throughout the year.
The structure remains the only one in the United States that permits parachute jumping year-round without authorization and attracts extreme athletes from many countries. Thousands of visitors come each year to watch jumpers glide down toward the water surface during freefall.
The community of curious travelers
AroundUs brings together thousands of curated places, local tips, and hidden gems, enriched daily by 93,157 contributors worldwide.
