Brotherhood Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Brotherhood Bridge |
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Aerial view of construction of the four-lane replacement bridge in May 2015, looking upriver from above the area along Industrial Boulevard, which abuts the bridge to the southwest.
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| Coordinates | 58°22′13″N 134°36′06″W / 58.3704°N 134.6017°W |
| Carries | Glacier Highway |
| Crosses | Mendenhall River |
| Locale | Juneau, Alaska, USA |
| Named for | Alaska Native Brotherhood |
| Owner | Alaska DOT&PF |
| History | |
| Designer | Roy Peratrovich, Jr. |
| Opened | 1965 (original) 2015 (current) |
| Replaces | Previous bridges |
The Brotherhood Bridge is an important road bridge located in Juneau, Alaska. It helps the Glacier Highway cross over the Mendenhall River. This bridge acts like a dividing line between the city parts and the more natural, rural areas of Juneau.
The bridge got its name to honor the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB). This group works to support and improve the lives of Alaska Native people.
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Who Designed the Brotherhood Bridge?
The Brotherhood Bridge was designed by a civil engineer named Roy Peratrovich, Jr.. His parents, Roy and Elizabeth Peratrovich, were important leaders in the Alaska Native Brotherhood (ANB) and its sister group, the Alaska Native Sisterhood. They worked hard for equal rights for Alaska Native people.
Special Plaques on the Bridge
You can find special bronze plaques on the bridge. These plaques show symbols of the Raven and Eagle clans. These clans are very important to the Tlingit people, who are one of the native groups of Alaska.
History of Bridges at This Location
The Brotherhood Bridge isn't the first bridge to cross the Mendenhall River in this spot. Before it, there were other bridges built in 1903, 1919, and 1931. The current Brotherhood Bridge was officially added to the United States Geological Survey's list of geographic names in 1981.
The New Brotherhood Bridge
The original Brotherhood Bridge was replaced with a newer, wider bridge. Work on this new bridge began in April 2014 and was finished by October 2015. The new bridge is much wider, measuring about 99.5 feet across. This project helped to improve travel and safety on the Glacier Highway.
