Million Dollar Bridge

 place with historical importance, NRHP - National Register of Historic Places, interesting place, bridge

Finished in 1911 during construction of the Copper River and Northwestern Railroad from Cordova to the Kennicott Copper Mine, the story of the last few hours of it's completion makes a wonderful tale.

In 1938, the mine and railroad were closed down, and after a time the railroad's roadbed and bridges were cleared of track, paved in some lengths and reused as a vehicle road, though only 10 miles of road have been constructed on the north side of the bridge.

The south end of the northernmost span (span 4) of the Million Dollar Bridge collapsed and fell into the river during the 1964 Alaskan earthquake. A ramp was used as a makeshift repair, but in 2005 the bridge was repaired and shored up, and is quite a sight after the 49-mile drive from Cordova, currently the only way to get there by road.

State engineers determined that it was less expensive to repair the bridge than it would be to remove it, or (in a worst case scenario) clean up if the bridge completely collapsed into the river. Even though the bridge has been rebuilt, it really doesn't go anywhere, and the only way to get to Cordova is still only by boat, ferry or aircraft.

The Million Dollar Bridge crosses the Copper River, famed for it's Red Salmon, at a point where it leaves Miles Lake and Glacier and, just downriver, undercuts Childs Glacier, resulting in a regular seasonal show of ice calving.

The bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.