Royal Gorge Bridge

Hanging 1,053 feet above Colorado’s wild Arkansas River, the Royal Gorge Bridge is the world's highest suspension bridge and a legendary feat of engineering renowned the world over. Built in 1929 for $350,000, the cost today would easily exceed $15 million. But for those who venture across it, whether walking or driving, the experience is priceless.

Engineering Facts

• Construction on the world's highest suspension bridge began June 5, 1929, and completed Nov. 1929
    • During construction, Lon P. Piper was president of the Royal Gorge Bridge and Amusement Company, George F. Cole was the chief engineer and project superintendent.  O.F. Copes was the north side construction superintendent,  Fred Rice was the south side construction superintendent, and O.K. Peck served as consulting engineer throughout the construction project
• Length: 1,270 feet (387 meters)
• Width: 18 feet (5 meters)
• Main Span: 880 feet (268 meters)
• Towers: 150 feet high (46 meters)
• 2,100 strands of No. 9 galvanized wire
• Weight of cables: 300 tons
• 1,000 tons of steel in the floor of Bridge
• Walkway: made of 1,270 planks of deck; about 250 are replaced annually
• Original cost to build: $350,000 – cost today about $15 million
• Bridge will support in excess of two million pounds
• Listed on the National Historic Register