Topock Bridge 1926!

[RiverDave]

Pictured is a photo from the February 1926 Arizona Highways of the Topock Bridge crossing the Colorado River. The Topock Bridge was completed during February 1916 as a component of the Auto Trail known as the National Old Trails Road. During the advent of the US Route System in November 1926 much of the alignment of the National Old Trails Road west of Santa Fe, New Mexico to Los Angeles, California became part of US Route 66. The Topock Bridge served as the connection between Arizona and California along US Route 66 until the opening of the Red Rock Bridge in 1947. The Topock Bridge ultimately was repurposed and presently carries a gas pipeline over the Colorado River.

 

[grumpy88]

Never new it was for cars . Cool story

 

[crzy2bealive]

Oh wow never knew that

 

[rivermobster]

Love these stories. Sure do miss Denny around here.

 

[HNL2LHC]

Thanks for the pic and info Dave. I have a lot of people ask about it while boating but did not know the history.

 

[Bpracing1127]

Great history

 

[Captain Dan]

As seen in the 1940 movie version of The Grapes of Wrath. Oakies crossing the river in their jalopy to escape the Dust Bowl.

 

[hallett21]

That’s awesome

 

[Hardly Satisfied]

Love these old photos

 

[Big B Hova]

Pictured is a photo from the February 1926 Arizona Highways of the Topock Bridge crossing the Colorado River. The Topock Bridge was completed during February 1916 as a component of the Auto Trail known as the National Old Trails Road. During the advent of the US Route System in November 1926 much of the alignment of the National Old Trails Road west of Santa Fe, New Mexico to Los Angeles, California became part of US Route 66. The Topock Bridge served as the connection between Arizona and California along US Route 66 until the opening of the Red Rock Bridge in 1947. The Topock Bridge ultimately was repurposed and presently carries a gas pipeline over the Colorado River.

View attachment 1259867

I tell my kids that pipe line has ice cold beer being pumped from California to Havasu

 

[mash on it]

This is the old bridge that was replaced by the 'Topock Bridge" that @RiverDave posted above.
It was demolished in June of 1977.
Current Needles bridge was built in 1978.

Dirty Lyle is standing at what is now Jack Smith Park. Rubber Duck is heading westbound from Arizona to California:

Dan'l

 

[LargeOrangeFont]

Great history

I think I can see you passing 12 Model Ts in that picture.

 

[zbudman]

I think I see the rope swing!

 

[The Prisoner]

Also a filming location for Easy Rider

Easy Rider | Road Trip Memories

 

[RCDave]

Speaking of old pics, that attached is one in the gorge way back when!

 

[Sangerdog]

I was down on the beach when they made that movie and friends were the ones kneeling down on the bridge shooting at the tanker. The bridge was a one way bridge across the river in Needles. One car at a time each way.

 

[Jonas Grumby]

This is the old bridge that was replaced by the 'Topock Bridge" that @RiverDave posted above.
It was demolished in June of 1977.
Current Needles bridge was built in 1978.

Dirty Lyle is standing at what is now Jack Smith Park. Rubber Duck is heading westbound from Arizona to California:

Dan'l

That hood ornament used to be tanks avitar.

 

[Flatsix66]

Old postcard of all three bridges. I don't know what the date is, but it must be old.

 

[Joker]

Speaking of bridges, the 40 Bridge crossing the river is either going to get rehabilitated or moved in the near future. Read it is structurally deficient.

 

[Nordie]

This bridge is being redone now. Pretty cool history

 

[FreeBird236]

Old postcard of all three bridges. I don't know what the date is, but it must be old. View attachment 1259928

Pretty sure I went across the middle bridge in 56, 60, and 64, not completely sure I was 12 in 64.

 

[Tank]

That hood ornament used to be tanks avitar.

Hells yeah. Danger duck! Still is my avatar on oso.

I actually have the hood ornament. Just need the Pete to go with it.

 

[jetboatperformance]

I tell my kids that pipe line has ice cold beer being pumped from California to Havasu

Bud Light ? Yeah we want the Panther piss outa here

 

[Tank]

Speaking of bridges, the 40 Bridge crossing the river is either going to get rehabilitated or moved in the near future. Read it is structurally deficient.

I’d believe that. It’s small and kinda sketchy for all the traffic that crosses it.

 

[FlyByWire]

Speaking of bridges, the 40 Bridge crossing the river is either going to get rehabilitated or moved in the near future. Read it is structurally deficient.

Yuuuup

 

[2Driver]

Always thought that was a lot of bridge for a gas line. Makes sense now

 

[Ziggy]

Route66

 

[~JM~]

This is the old bridge that was replaced by the 'Topock Bridge" that @RiverDave posted above.
It was demolished in June of 1977.
Current Needles bridge was built in 1978.

Dirty Lyle is standing at what is now Jack Smith Park. Rubber Duck is heading westbound from Arizona to California:

Dan'l

That was the Needles Bridge.

 

[thedan]

Great article about the dredging of Needles. Starts on page 152 if it doesn’t cue up to the article.

https://books.google.com/books?id=G...resnum=7&ved=0CDgQ6AEwBjg8#v=onepage&q&f=true

 

[4Waters]

Yuuuup

When is that supposed to start, roughly

 

[Terminal Velocity]

When is that supposed to start, roughly

not sure when, but here's a notice and "some" infor on Caltrans site.

I-40 Colorado River Bridge Replacement | Caltrans

State of California

dot.ca.gov

 

[4Waters]

not sure when, but here's a notice and "some" infor on Caltrans site.

I-40 Colorado River Bridge Replacement | Caltrans

State of California

dot.ca.gov

I saw that but it doesn't give a start, I'm wondering if it's gonna be 2024-25 2030

 

[Terminal Velocity]

I saw that but it doesn't give a start, I'm wondering if it's gonna be 2024-25 2030

No idea, but seeing as the public comment was end of June 2023, id say yore guess dates are appropriate timeline. LOL

And given the draft EIR and still trying to figure out which of the 4 options/Alternative, timeline is probably still accurate.