Fernbridge (bridge)

This article is about the bridge. For the town, see Fernbridge, California.
Fernbridge
Partial view of the west side of Fernbridge as seen from the south bank of the Eel River
Coordinates40°36′51″N 124°12′8″W / 40.61417°N 124.20222°W / 40.61417; -124.20222
Carries SR 211
CrossesEel River
LocaleFernbridge, California
Other name(s)originally Eel River Bridge
Maintained byCalifornia Department of Transportation
Characteristics
DesignArch bridge
MaterialConcrete
Total length1,320 ft (402.3 m)
No. of spans7
Piers in water8 during periods of high water
No. of lanes2
History
DesignerJohn B. Leonard
Constructed byPacific Construction (of San Francisco)
Construction start1910
OpenedNovember 8, 1911 (1911-11-08)
Fernbridge
Area1.4 acres (0.6 ha)
NRHP reference No.87000566[1]
Added to NRHPApril 2, 1987
Location
Map

Fernbridge, originally Eel River Bridge,[2] is a 1,320-foot-long (402.3 m) concrete arch bridge designed by American engineer John B. Leonard which opened on November 8, 1911[3] at the site of an earlier ferry crossing of the Eel River. Fernbridge is the last crossing before the Eel arrives at the Pacific Ocean, and anchors one end of California State Route 211 leading to Ferndale, California. When built, it was referred to as the "Queen of Bridges" and is still the longest functional poured concrete bridge in operation in the world.[4]

  1. ^ "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. March 13, 2009.
  2. ^ Ring, Ross (2023–2024). Titus, Caroline (ed.). "The Queen of Bridges welcomes visitors to The Victorian Village". The Ferndale Enterprise (Souvenir ed.). Ferndale, California: Cage Publishing, Incorporated. p. 15.
  3. ^ Pence, Steven (March 21, 2024). Greenson, Thadeus (ed.). "Caltrans to Install Seismic Gates on Fernbridge". The Ferndale Enterprise. Eureka, California: North Coast Journal Incorporated. pp. 1, 2.
  4. ^ "California 211". AA Roads. Retrieved December 24, 2012.