Querino Canyon Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids |
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Querino Canyon Bridge
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Querino Canyon Bridge
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 Location in Arizona
Location in the United States
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| Location | Houck, Arizona |
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| NRHP reference No. | 88001623 |
| Added to NRHP | September 30, 1988 |
The Querino Canyon Bridge is a historic bridge found in Arizona. It is located about 4 miles (6.4 km) southwest of Houck, Arizona. This bridge crosses over Querino Canyon and was once an important part of the famous Route 66.
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Why Was Querino Canyon Bridge Built?
Building a Better Route 66
In 1929, the Arizona Highway Department (AHD) started a big project. They wanted to make parts of U.S. Route 66 much better. This road was very important for travel across the country.
The project involved improving about 22.5 miles (36.2 km) of the road. This meant smoothing out the ground and putting down new surfaces. They also planned to build several new bridges. The Querino Canyon Bridge was the biggest bridge planned for this section.
Who Built the Bridge?
In November 1929, a company owned by F.D. Shufflebarger won the job. He was a contractor from Phoenix. His company was chosen to build the bridge and the new road sections. The cost for this big project was $184,604.
Work on the roads started before the end of 1929. However, building the bridge itself began in 1930. The Querino Canyon Bridge was finished by December of that year.
How Did the Bridge's Use Change?
In the 1960s, the way people traveled changed. A new, bigger highway called Interstate 40 (I-40) was built. This new highway took over much of the traffic that used to be on Route 66.
Because of I-40, this part of Route 66 was no longer a main highway. The Querino Canyon Bridge then became part of a local county road.
What Does Querino Canyon Bridge Look Like?
Bridge Size and Structure
The Querino Canyon Bridge has three main sections, called spans. Each span is about 77 feet (23 m) long. When you add the parts that lead up to the bridge, its total length is about 269 feet (82 m). The bridge is 20 feet (6.1 m) wide.
The bridge stands on strong concrete supports and steel pillars. These pillars hold up three special structures called Pratt deck trusses. These trusses help support the bridge's concrete road surface, which is where cars drive.
