Susitna River Bridge

Susitna River Bridge
Under construction, 1920
(view looking west, from upstream)
Coordinates62°46′04″N 149°41′37″W / 62.7678°N 149.6936°W / 62.7678; -149.6936
CarriesAlaska Railroad
CrossesSustina River
Localesouth-central Alaska
Characteristics
DesignThrough truss
MaterialSteel
Height71 feet (22 m)
Longest span503 feet (153 m)
History
Construction startOctober 1920
Construction endFebruary 1921
Susitna River Bridge
Alaska Heritage Resources Survey
Susitna River Bridge is located in Alaska
Susitna River Bridge
LocationAlaska Railroad Mile 264.1, North of Gold Creek, Matanuska-Susitna Borough, Alaska
Coordinates62°46′05″N 149°41′35″W / 62.76793°N 149.69318°W / 62.76793; -149.69318
Arealess than one acre
Built1921
ArchitectAmerican Bridge Company
Architectural styleThrough truss
NRHP reference No.77000227[1]
AHRS No.TLM-006
Significant dates
Added to NRHPSeptember 15, 1977
Designated AHRSApril 8, 1975
Location
Map

The Susitna River Bridge, also known as the Gold Creek Bridge, was the longest bridge span on the United States Government Railway in Alaska. The steel 504-ft. through-truss channel spans the Susitna River. It was completed in February, 1921. The crossing of the Susitna includes two 121-ft. combination Howe truss flanking spans and two 70-ft. combination pony Howe truss end spans, with 392 ft. of trestle at the southern approach and 28 ft. at the northern approach, making a total length of 1,322 ft. It is located 150 miles north of Anchorage, and 264 miles north of the terminus at Seward.[2] The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1977.[1]

  1. ^ a b "National Register Information System". National Register of Historic Places. National Park Service. July 9, 2010.
  2. ^ McGraw-Hill 1921, p. 92-94.