THE BRIDGE TO NOWHERELocation: San Gabriel Mtns. North of Azusa CA
Accessibility: Difficult 10-Mile hike Built: 1936 |
|
Deep in the San Gabriel Mountains stands a 120-foot-high concrete bridge that connects nothing... with nothing. In the 1920s, Los Angeles County's original plan was to build a 2-lane highway all the way up the East Fork of the San Gabriel River, that would connect Azusa in the south to Wrightwood in the north.
Construction began in 1929 with most of the hard labor carried out by a workforce of LA County prisoners. By 1936, highway construction had reached a deep gorge known as The Narrows, and a bridge was constructed to cross the gap. On March 1st, 1938 a torrential storm and massive flood obliterated most of the roadway leading to the bridge. Since the bridge was built 120 feet above the river bed, it survived the disaster. The road was never restored due to lack of financial investment and further construction on the highway ceased, leaving behind only the bridge and a few scattered ruins of the highway.
In recent years the Bridge to Nowhere was purchased by Bungee America, and it is not uncommon to see a number of bungee jumpers jumping from the high bridge deck. The beautiful arched bridge is now a monument onto itself and left for those who dare to trek the 10 mile hike to behold.
For more information or directions to the Bridge to Nowhere, please watch the video.
Construction began in 1929 with most of the hard labor carried out by a workforce of LA County prisoners. By 1936, highway construction had reached a deep gorge known as The Narrows, and a bridge was constructed to cross the gap. On March 1st, 1938 a torrential storm and massive flood obliterated most of the roadway leading to the bridge. Since the bridge was built 120 feet above the river bed, it survived the disaster. The road was never restored due to lack of financial investment and further construction on the highway ceased, leaving behind only the bridge and a few scattered ruins of the highway.
In recent years the Bridge to Nowhere was purchased by Bungee America, and it is not uncommon to see a number of bungee jumpers jumping from the high bridge deck. The beautiful arched bridge is now a monument onto itself and left for those who dare to trek the 10 mile hike to behold.
For more information or directions to the Bridge to Nowhere, please watch the video.
