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Colorado Street Bridge (Pasadena, California) facts for kids

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Colorado Street Bridge
Pasadena Colorado Street Bridge 2005.jpg
Colorado Street Bridge seen from the Arroyo Seco below
Location Pasadena, California
Built 1912
Architect Waddell & Harrington
NRHP reference No. 81000156
Added to NRHP February 12, 1981

The Colorado Street Bridge is a historic concrete arch bridge spanning the Arroyo Seco in Pasadena, California.

History

The Colorado Street Bridge was designed and built in 1912 at a total cost of $191,000 (equivalent to $5,580,246 in 2022). The bridge was designed by the firm of Waddell & Harrington, based in Kansas City, Missouri. The structure carries Colorado Boulevard (then called "Colorado Street"), the major east-west thoroughfare connecting Pasadena with Eagle Rock and Glendale to the west, and with Monrovia to the east. The Colorado Street Bridge replaced the small Scoville Bridge located near the bottom of the Arroyo Seco. It opened on December 13, 1913.

The bridge follows a curved path so that the footings would sit on more solid ground than a straight bridge would have provided. The bridge spans 1,486 feet (453 m) at a maximum height of 150 feet (45 m) and is notable for its distinctive Beaux Arts arches, light standards, and railings. The bridge is on the National Register of Historic Places and has been designated a National Historic Civil Engineering Landmark by the American Society of Civil Engineers.

Colorado Street Bridge Historic Landmark Dedication
Plaque dedicating the bridge as a Historic Civil Engineering Landmark, near the span's east end on the south side.

Gallery

  • 2010-1101-06-ColoradoStBridge

    The Colorado Street Bridge next to the bridge for the Ventura Freeway, also known as the Pioneers Bridge.

  • ColoStBridge,1920

    The Colorado Street Bridge, with the San Gabriel mountains in the background, around 1920.

  • Colorado Street Bridge1913

    1913 view looking north at the Colorado Street Bridge under construction and the Scoville Bridge behind.

  • ColoradoStreetBridgeScovillebridge1914

    1914 Colorado Street Bridge just completed and the Scoville Bridge, later washed away by a flood.

  • Colorado street bridge night lights

    The Colorado Street Bridge 2020; view of side of bridge at night with lights on.

  • Colorado street bridge sunset view from park

    The Colorado Street Bridge 2020; view at sunset from the park underneath.

  • Colorado street bridge pasadena view from underneath

    The Colorado Street Bridge 2020; view from underneath.

  • Colorado street bridge lights hiking path underneath

    The Colorado Street Bridge 2020; view at sunset from underneath, showing hiking trail and lights on top of bridge.

  • Colorado street bridge night lights underside

    The Colorado Street Bridge 2020; view at night underneath with passing traffic and park lights.

Images for kids

  • ScovilleBridgepartiallyColoradoStreetBridge

    A 1913 view of the Scoville Bridge next to the partially completed Colorado Street Bridge.

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