Bixby Creek Bridge

Bixby Creek Bridge, Big Sur, California, USA

Bixby Creek Bridge, also known as Bixby Bridge, is a reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch bridge in Big Sur, California. The bridge is located 120 miles south of San Francisco and 13 miles south of Carmel in Monterey County along State Route 1. Prior to the opening of the bridge in 1932, residents of the Big Sur area were virtually cut off during winter due to the often impassable Old Coast Road that led 11 miles (18 km) inland. It is one of the tallest single-span concrete bridges in the world and one of the most photographed bridges along the Pacific Coast due to its aesthetic design and location.

The state awarded a contract for $203,334 in 1931 to the lower bidder, Ward Engineering Company of San Francisco. Construction began on August 24, 1931.

Location Map of Bixby Creek Bridge 

Crews began pouring concrete on November 27. The cement was transported from Davenport near Santa Cruz, and from San Andreas. Material was transported across the canyon from platforms using slings suspended from a cable 300 feet (91 m) above the creek. The bridge was completed on October 15, 1932. At its completion, the bridge cost $199,861 and was the longest concrete arch span at 320 feet (98 m) on the California State Highway System.