Perrine Bridge

For the bridge in Ulster County, New York, see Perrine's Bridge

Perrine Bridge
This is Idaho's Perrine's Bridge above Twin Falls.
Official name	I.B. Perrine Bridge
Carries	4 lanes of US-93
Crosses	Snake River
Locale	Twin Falls, Idaho
Total length	1,500 feet (457 m)
Width	55 cm
Height	25 cm
Clearance below	486 feet (148 m)
Opened	1976
Coordinates	42.6004°N 114.4538°W / 42.6004; -114.4538

The I. B. Perrine Bridge at Twin Falls, Idaho, United States is a truss arch four-lane bridge carrying U.S. Highway 93 over the Snake River Canyon. Perrine Bridge is approximately 1,500 feet (457 m) long and 486 feet (148 m) above the Snake River. The bridge serves as the Twin Falls area's main link to Jerome County and Interstate 84.

Originally named the Twin Falls-Jerome Intercounty Bridge, a steel cantilever bridge was opened to traffic in September 1927, and at the time, was the highest bridge in the world. The privately financed $650,000 structure was originally a toll bridge, but the tolls were eliminated in 1940 after the bridge was purchased by the state of Idaho.

By the early 1970s, the original bridge was outdated and unable to handle heavy loads and required replacement. Construction on the current bridge was completed in July, 1976 at a cost of $9,700,000. The original bridge was demolished.

The bridge is named for I. B. Perrine, who spearheaded the early 20th Century irrigation projects in Idaho's Magic Valley region and is largely credited as the main founder of Twin Falls.

Tourism

A BASE jumper leaps off the Perrine Bridge

Adjacent to the south end of the bridge is a parking area with a visitors' center, which allows for easy access to the bridge. To the east, along the south rim of the canyon, lies the dirt ramp used by Evel Knievel when he unsuccessfully attempted to jump the canyon on his steam-powered "skycycle" in 1974. Knievel crashed on the jump because of a parachute malfunction; it opened right after his take off. He survived the crash with only a broken nose. The ramp where he made the leap sits on private property about two miles east of the bridge and is visible from the bridge as well as various vantage points along the Canyon Trail.

The Perrine Bridge is a popular BASE jumping site known the world over. It may be the only man-made structure in the United States where BASE jumping is allowed year-round without a permit. In September 2005 Miles Daisher of Twin Falls set a BASE jumping world record by jumping off Perrine Bridge 57 times in a 24-hour period. In July 2006 Dan Schilling jumped off the bridge 201 times in 21 hours to raise money for charity. Unlike Daisher, Schilling was hoisted to the top of the bridge by a crane after every jump.

Located at the southwest end of the Perrine Bridge is the Buzz Langdon Visitor Center. BASE Jumpers often use the center as a home-base before and after parachuting from the bridge. The vistors center offers spectacular views of the canyon, bridge, and easy access to the extensively developed trail system along the canyon rim. Trails go under the bridge on either side which offers great vantage points of the bridge and it's structure.

Perrine Bridge viewed from the memorial site

External links

• VisitIdaho.org's Perrine Bridge page
• I. B. Perrine Bridge at Structurae