The Galena Creek Bridge is a
twin-span concrete
Concrete is a composite material composed of fine and coarse aggregate bonded together with a fluid cement (cement paste) that hardens (cures) over time. Concrete is the second-most-used substance in the world after water, and is the most wi ...
arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side. A viaduct ...
in
Washoe County,
Nevada
Nevada ( ; ) is a U.S. state, state in the Western United States, Western region of the United States. It is bordered by Oregon to the northwest, Idaho to the northeast, California to the west, Arizona to the southeast, and Utah to the east. N ...
. The bridge carries
Interstate 580 and
U.S. Route 395
U.S. Route 395 (US 395) is a U.S. Route in the western United States. The southern terminus of the route is in the Mojave Desert at Interstate 15 near Hesperia. The northern terminus is at the Canada–US border near Laurier, where the road ...
over the
Galena Creek between
Carson City
Carson City is an Independent city (United States), independent city and the capital of the U.S. state of Nevada. As of the 2020 United States Census, 2020 census, the population was 58,639, making it the List of cities in Nevada, sixth largest ...
and
Reno
Reno ( ) is a city in the northwest section of the U.S. state of Nevada, along the Nevada-California border, about north from Lake Tahoe, known as "The Biggest Little City in the World". Known for its casino and tourism industry, Reno is the ...
. It was opened to traffic in late August 2012.
The bridge has a total length of and main span length of .
The height is .
The bridge is reportedly the largest
cathedral arch bridge in the world; that is a type of open-spandrel
deck arch bridge
An arch bridge is a bridge with abutments at each end shaped as a curved arch. Arch bridges work by transferring the weight of the bridge and its loads partially into a horizontal thrust restrained by the abutments at either side. A viaduct ( ...
where the arch supports the deck only at the center.
Construction was started in 2003 but was delayed by a number of safety concerns and other issues. In 2006, the original prime contractor found the planned construction method unsafe; the method was revised and a new contractor hired.
In 2010, several long superficial cracks were found.
On July 28, 2012, the
Nevada Department of Transportation
The Nevada Department of Transportation (Nevada DOT or NDOT) is a government agency in the U.S. state of Nevada. NDOT is responsible for maintaining and improving Nevada's highway system, which includes U.S. highways and Interstate highways within ...
held a community event for pedestrian, bicycle, and limited motor vehicle traffic to see the bridge prior to it opening for traffic; the bridge and freeway project opened in late August 2012.
See also
*
List of bridges in the United States by height
This is a list of the highest bridges in the United States by height over land or water. ''Height'' in this list refers to the distance from the bridge deck to the lowest point on the land, or the water surface, directly below. A bridge's deck he ...
References
External links
General Technologies, Inc.: Galena Creek Concrete Arch Bridge
{{DEFAULTSORT:Galena Creek Bridge
Bridges on the Interstate Highway System
Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System
Bridges completed in 2012
Buildings and structures in Washoe County, Nevada
Concrete bridges in the United States
Cathedral arch bridges
Road bridges in Nevada
U.S. Route 395
Open-spandrel deck arch bridges in the United States