Hurricane Gulch Bridge

Hurricane Gulch Bridge
Coordinates	63°0′N 149°37′W
Carries	Alaska Railroad
Crosses	Hurricane Gulch (tributary of Chulitna River)
Locale	Hurricane Gulch
Maintained by	Alaska Railroad
Characteristics
Design	Arch
Width	8 ft (2.4 m), 1 track with a walkway on one side
Longest span	918 ft (279.8 m)
Clearance above	Deck arch, unlimited clearance
Clearance below	296 ft (90 m)
History
Opened	August 15, 1921
Location

Not to be confused with the road bridge of the same name.

The Hurricane Gulch Bridge is a 918 ft (280 m) steel arch bridge that crosses Hurricane Gulch. It is located at milepost 284.2, counting from Seward. It is both the longest and tallest bridge on the entire railroad.

Construction

Construction of this bridge by the American Bridge Company began in early 1921. The first steel was erected in June, and the first passenger train operated on August 15 of the same year. It was the most difficult and expensive bridge project on the railroad, and cost $1.2 million. To built it, the company strung an aerial tram across the gulch, and construction proceeded from both sides simultaneously. For eight years, this was the tallest bridge in the US.