In the middle of nowhere on a road with no formal destination, I encounter the Royal Gorge Bridge Highest Suspension Bridge Arkansas River spanning a dis
tance of 1260 feet which is just short of a quarter mile. It was built in 1929 by Mr. Lon Piper to attract tourists to the 360 acre Royal Gorge Park Royal Gorge and the surrounding park. The definition of marvel is to evoke surprise, admiration or wonder. Well, to me, this bridge is an impressive structure that definitely evokes surprise and wonder and Mr. Lon Piper has gained my admiration and respect.
tance of 1260 feet which is just short of a quarter mile. It was built in 1929 by Mr. Lon Piper to attract tourists to the 360 acre At the entrance to the park I encounter a ticket booth advertising $24 tickets. The “World’s Steepest Incline Railway,” and the “World’s Longest Single-Span Aerial Tram,” are included for this price. I purchase a ticket and walk through the entry gate into a small court yard surrounded by gift and souvenir shops. As I pass the shops and other visitors standing in line at the entrance to the incline railway, I get a better view of the bridge up ahead and I am drawn to it like a magnet.
The entire structure is painted silver, shimmering in the sun like a new dime. On each side of the canyon, seemingly perched on the granite ledge, the concrete foundations anchor the twin 150 foot steel bridge towers. They are wide at the base and narrow at the top, each reminiscent of an old fashioned windmill. I look up towards the top of towers and it appears as if they actually touch the sky, a sharp contrast of silver and blue. The towers stand approximately twenty five feet apart, connected by horizontal and diagonal beams to provide lateral support.
The twin cables are constructed of 2,100 strands of wire weighing a massive 300 tons each. The total 4,200 strands of wire would stretch 1,002 miles if connected end to end. Like two large boa constrictors these cables run parallel from the concrete abutments up and over the near towers, drooping in a downward arch to the center. From the center they continue up again, over the far towers and to the ground, where they anchor to the abutment on the other side. From these cables, evenly spaced, hang the vertical stringers supporting the road structure. With long stringers at the tower end, each one getting shorter as they near the center of the bridge, each end resembles a harp. The road is eighteen feet wide with four foot high side rails, covered in wire mesh for safety. To reduce weight the bridge surface is made of wooden planks.
Nearing the bridge, I stop dead in my tracks. I have been so fascinated by the bridge I failed to notice the huge crack in the earth
the bridge spans. This, of course, is the Royal Gorge itself, a ten mile long canyon that cuts through Freemont Peak in southern Colorado Colorado
the bridge spans. This, of course, is the Royal Gorge itself, a ten mile long canyon that cuts through When I step off the asphalt surface onto the wooden planks, I can feel the fragility in comparison to the solid surface I just left. With each step I can feel the planks move and hear faint creaking sound
s, similar to the sounds made when walking up an old flight of stairs. I stand still for a moment and my senses come alive. I can hear the murmur of other visitors as they pass by me, the whisper of the roaring rapids far below, the whistle of the wind as it makes its way through the canyon and the tinkling, pinging sound as the cables strain to contain the 1,000 tons of steel that make up the road structure. The entire structure seems to move ever so slightly with the wind, and the distant canyon wall appears to waver in my vision. I feel like a daredevil as I begin my journey across the 1292 twelve inch wooden planks that span across the canyon. The fact this structure is capable of supporting two million pounds and has stood for more than 80 years, does not seem to diminish my fears.
s, similar to the sounds made when walking up an old flight of stairs. I stand still for a moment and my senses come alive. I can hear the murmur of other visitors as they pass by me, the whisper of the roaring rapids far below, the whistle of the wind as it makes its way through the canyon and the tinkling, pinging sound as the cables strain to contain the 1,000 tons of steel that make up the road structure. The entire structure seems to move ever so slightly with the wind, and the distant canyon wall appears to waver in my vision. I feel like a daredevil as I begin my journey across the 1292 twelve inch wooden planks that span across the canyon. The fact this structure is capable of supporting two million pounds and has stood for more than 80 years, does not seem to diminish my fears.Clutching the handrail for security, its surface worn smooth from countless visitors, I am amazed at how cool it feels in the hot sun. With a tight grip I lean outward over the rail to get a better view of the river below. As I look down I see the Royal Gorge train making its way along the rivers edge. From this
distance it looks so small it appears to be a toy. Losing sight of the train as it passes below I decide to check the view from the other side of the bridge. Turning to walk to the other side, I notice a knot hole in one of the planks; I have an idea. I lower myself to the floor, turn my head and press my check to the coarse wood. Peering through the hole with my right eye I can see directly below the bridge, where the train continues moving along its way. What a fabulous way to get a bird’s eye view of the canyon without something obstructing my view. I almost feel like I’m flying. I wonder, is this what Mr. Piper had envisioned?
distance it looks so small it appears to be a toy. Losing sight of the train as it passes below I decide to check the view from the other side of the bridge. Turning to walk to the other side, I notice a knot hole in one of the planks; I have an idea. I lower myself to the floor, turn my head and press my check to the coarse wood. Peering through the hole with my right eye I can see directly below the bridge, where the train continues moving along its way. What a fabulous way to get a bird’s eye view of the canyon without something obstructing my view. I almost feel like I’m flying. I wonder, is this what Mr. Piper had envisioned? Upon reaching the other end of the bridge, I breathe a sigh of relief as I my feet touch solid ground. As much as the walk across the bridge was exhilarating I decide to return by way of the aerial tram to get a better view of the entire bridge. As soon as I step into the tram and take a seat it eases out of its cradle and I begin my return to the entrance of the park. The tram sways and bounces along at a le
isurely pace of 11.4 mile per hour at an alarming height of 1,178 feet above the river. As the tram passes the rock outcroppings blocking my view, the bridge appears and I see the entire structure in full panoramic view. In stark contrast to the reddish brown granite canyon walls, the blue skies and the snow capped San de Cristo Mountains the shimmering silver bridge appears to float on air, a spectacular image I will keep with me for a life time.
isurely pace of 11.4 mile per hour at an alarming height of 1,178 feet above the river. As the tram passes the rock outcroppings blocking my view, the bridge appears and I see the entire structure in full panoramic view. In stark contrast to the reddish brown granite canyon walls, the blue skies and the snow capped San de Cristo Mountains the shimmering silver bridge appears to float on air, a spectacular image I will keep with me for a life time. As I reluctantly leave the park I cannot help but think of the man who saw the potential of this beautiful place. Mr. Lon Piper built the Royal Gorge Bridge Colorado
written by - Doug Sanford
