Ciénega Bridge ( ... with a Bonus or 3!)

 

- Ciénega Bridge is an open-spandrel arch bridge which crosses Ciénega Creek and the Union Pacific Railroad tracks east of Vail, Arizona
- Originally constructed in 1921, the bridge was part of U.S. Route 80, a major transcontinental highway, from 1926 to 1956
- Being the oldest bridge of its kind in Arizona, the Ciénega Bridge is listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- The bridge also holds the title of being the longest open-spandrel concrete arch bridge within Arizona
- Currently, the bridge carries Marsh Station Road, which is part of Historic U.S. Route 80
 
Bonus! ==> Adjacent to the Ciénega Bridge is an old El Paso & Southwestern Railroad Railroad bridge now part of the Union Pacific Railroad ... if the timing is right, an east-bound and west-bound train just might meet-up there (see the video below) ... there is a small parking lot for train geeks and bird watchers to meet-up, too!
Bonus! ==> About 1/4-mile south is the Cienega Creek Nature Preserve
Bonus! ==> About 3-miles east is the Pantano Townsite Conservation Area

Map

YouTube video of two Union Pacific trains (east-bound and west-bound) meeting at the bridge ...

Historical marker at the bridge ...