Linn Cove Viaduct facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Linn Cove Viaduct |
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| Coordinates | 36°05′42″N 81°48′44″W / 36.09513°N 81.81223°W |
| Carries | Blue Ridge Parkway |
| Crosses | Linn Cove of Grandfather Mountain |
| Locale | Avery County, NC |
| Owner | National Park Service |
| Maintained by | National Park Service |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Segmental bridge |
| Material | Concrete |
| Total length | 1,243 feet (379 m) |
| Width | 39.5 feet (12.0 m) |
| Longest span | 180.1 feet (54.9 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Figg & Muller Engineering Group |
| Constructed by | Jasper Construction Co. |
| Construction begin | 1979 |
| Construction end | 1983 |
| Construction cost | $10 million |
| Inaugurated | September 11, 1987 |
The Linn Cove Viaduct is a super cool bridge in western North Carolina. It's made of concrete and is about 1,243 feet (379 m) long. This amazing bridge snakes around Grandfather Mountain.
It was finished in 1983 and cost $10 million to build. The Linn Cove Viaduct was one of the very last big projects for the Blue Ridge Parkway. This parkway is a long, scenic road that stretches 469 miles (755 km). It connects Shenandoah National Park to Great Smoky Mountains National Park. The parkway mostly follows the top of the Blue Ridge. It was fully opened for cars in 1987.
History of the Bridge
Building the Blue Ridge Parkway started way back in 1935. The first plan for this part of the road was to build a special bridge called a viaduct. This was because a regular road, which would involve cutting into the mountain and filling in valleys, would harm Grandfather Mountain.
Grandfather Mountain is super tall, almost 6,000 feet (1,800 m) high! It's the highest and roughest peak on the Blue Ridge. It's also one of the oldest mountains in North America. People who wanted to protect nature, called conservationists, really pushed for the viaduct. They worried that logging and other activities would cause damage that couldn't be fixed. They also wanted to keep the mountain's beautiful views safe.
By 1966, most of the parkway was done. But a 7.7-mile (12.4 km) section around Grandfather Mountain was still unfinished. It took 40 years for the government to get all the land needed for this part of the road!
How It Was Designed and Built
The Linn Cove Viaduct was designed by engineers named Figg and Muller. Construction started in 1979. The bridge is about 1,243 feet (379 m) long and a bit less than 40 feet (12 m) wide. It rests on seven strong supports called piers.
What made building this bridge so special was that heavy construction machines never touched the ground! Workers built the bridge from its south end. They used a special crane that moved along the bridge as it grew. This crane connected 153 pieces, one by one.
Each piece was about 8.5 feet (2.6 m) long and weighed 50 tons! These pieces were made ahead of time, or precast, at a special factory right there on the site. Then, they were moved on a cart to the crane. Almost all of these pieces were slightly curved. This was because the bridge needed to curve like an "S" to follow the mountain's shape. The only work done on the ground was drilling holes for the piers. The piers themselves were also built piece by piece.
The Linn Cove Viaduct has won many awards for its design. One award, the 1984 President's Design Award, said that building the road with pre-made concrete pieces was "elegant, economical, and new." It also said the bridge looks like "an elegant curving ribbon that caresses the terrain without using it as a support." It makes drivers feel like they are "driving tantalizing on air while the earth goes by."
Things to Do Nearby
The National Park Service has a visitor center at the south end of the Linn Cove Viaduct. It also has a museum about the bridge. From here, you can get onto the Tanawha Trail. This trail goes from Beacon Heights all the way to Julian Price Memorial Park.
Images for kids
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Viaduct Setting
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Viaduct Erection Scheme
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Viaduct and Tanawha Trail
