Ocean to Ocean Bridge
| Ocean To Ocean Bridge | |
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| Coordinates | 32°43′43″N 114°36′56″W / 32.728705°N 114.615596°WCoordinates: 32°43′43″N 114°36′56″W / 32.728705°N 114.615596°W |
| Carries | Penitentiary Avenue |
| Crosses | Colorado River |
| Locale | Yuma, Arizona, United States |
| Named for | Ocean-to-Ocean Highway |
| Owner | Yuma County, Arizona |
| ID number | 8533 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Through truss bridge |
| Material | Steel |
| Pier construction | Concrete |
| Total length | 444 ft (135 m) |
| Width | 35 ft (11 m) |
| Longest span | 336 ft (102 m) |
| No. of spans | 2 |
| Piers in water | 1 |
| History | |
| Designer | Bureau of Indian Affairs |
| Constructed by | Omaha Structural Steel Works |
| Construction begin | September 1914 |
| Construction end | 1915 |
| Construction cost | $73,800 |
| Opened | 22 May 1915 |
| Rebuilt | 1943; 2002 |
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Ocean To Ocean Bridge
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| Coordinates | 32°43′42″N 114°36′53″W / 32.72833°N 114.61472°W |
| Area | 0.2 acres (0.081 ha) |
| Built | 1914 |
| Built by | Omaha Structural Steel Works, Office of Indian Affairs |
| MPS | Vehicular Bridges in Arizona MPS |
| NRHP Reference # | 79000431 |
| Added to NRHP | September 11, 1979 |
The Ocean To Ocean Bridge is a through truss bridge spanning the Colorado River in Yuma, Arizona. Built in 1915, it was the first highway crossing of the lower Colorado and is the earliest example of a through truss bridge in Arizona. It is also the only example of a Pennsylvania truss within Arizona. Originally the bridge carried the transcontinental Ocean-to-Ocean Highway and later carried its successor, US 80 until a new bridge was built to the west in 1956. Between 1988 and 2001, the bridge was closed to vehicular traffic and only traversable by pedestrians and bicyclists. After a major restoration, the bridge was rehabilitated and reopened to vehicular traffic in 2002, with a re-dedication by the Quechan nation and Yuma Crossing National Heritage Area.
In 1913, following massive pressure against Arizona Congressman Carl Hayden by the citizens of Yuma, Hayden lobbied Congress, proposing federal aid be used for construction of a permanent highway crossing spanning the lower Colorado River. Congress authorized the construction of the bridge under the pretense that it was to be used in connecting Yuma to the Fort Yuma Indian Reservation located on the opposing bank of the river. It was therefore, the federal funding would be provided through the Office of Indian Affairs (OIA). Further capital was raised and provided by the State of Arizona and Imperial County, California; each providing $25,000. OIA engineers in Washington D.C. were tasked with designing the new bridge. The new bridge design was to be a steel, Pennsylvania through truss design complimented by a Warren deck truss second span, both resting upon concrete piers and abutments above the river. The location of the bridge was to be upstream from an existing ferry crossing at Prison Hill Road.
The Omaha Structural Steel Works was awarded the construction contract by the OIA in June 1914, at a cost of $73,800. Construction on the bridge began in September 1914. Between October and February, problems arose constructing the bridge, as both Omaha Steel and the OIA were unfamiliar with the currents and flood patterns of the lower Colorado. Falsework erected to aid in the bridge's construction were twice washed downstream by floods. Omaha Steel decided to approach construction of the twin span bridge by a different method; constructing the spans on barges and floating each span down river into position. The 336 ft (102 m) span was floated down river and swung into place carefully and methodically on March 3, 1915, followed by local praise and celebration. Following completion, the Ocean To Ocean Bridge was ceremoniously opened to the public on May 22, 1915. The bridge became a crucial link in the nationwide transcontinental Ocean-to-Ocean Highway and was also the first highway bridge across the lower Colorado River.
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