The Bridge to Nowhere

So down in Yuma there's a bridge that literally goes to nowhere. It's not used anymore obviously but it used to cross the Gila River, which is nothing more than a tiny stream in places now. We decided to check it out but were disappointed to see that it was fenced off not allowing us to even walk on it. I did however get a few pictures of it.

The McPhaul Suspension Bridge, which was built in 1928 by the state of Arizona and Yuma County, was part of the early link along the Yuma to Quartzsite road. It was named in honor of Harry McPhaul of Yuma and opened to traffic in the following year, 1929. McPhaul Bridge was the longest suspension bridge in Arizona at the time it was constructed (the main span between suspension towers is 798 feet). However, it was replaced in 1967 when s new U.S. 95 concrete bridge was constructed across the Gila River (the 1967 bridge was destroyed by flood and was replaced in 1993 - but the McPhaul Bridge survived the flood). As a result, the suspension bridge had not been used as the main route for over forty years by the time these pictures were taken. Vehicular traffic is prohibited on the McPhaul Bridge, especially because the bridge deck is made of wood. Concerns about the durability of the wood have resulted in warning signs being posted for people trying to cross the bridge, even by foot.

For more pictures you can see http://www.bridgemeister.com/pic.php?pid=1250