Bixby Creek Arch Bridge
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Bixby Bridge is a reinforced concrete open-spandrel arch bridge in Big Sur, California, 120 miles south of San Francisco along Cabrillo Highway (CA-1). It is 714 feet long, 24 feet wide and has a main span of 320 feet. It is one of the most photographed bridges in the world because of its location along the beautiful central California coast, and also appears in many car commercials.[citation needed]
Bixby Bridge is important historically because it introduced automobile travel to Big Sur, connecting the remote coastal towns to each other. Before the bridge was completed in 1932, coastal travelers endured rough wagon roads over precipitous ridges and valleys. The 30 mile journey from Monterey to the Big Sur River valley could take three days round trip.
In 1997, the bridge was retrofitted as part of the Caltrans Phase II seismic retrofit program. The retrofit solidifies the bridge's stuctural and landmark status for the next generation of Californians.