Jim Creek Bridge

Completed in 1945, the concrete arch Jim Creek Bridge replaced an earlier bridge spanning Jim Creek and rugged Jim Creek Canyon on this lightly traveled portion of State Route 503. The present structure is 308 feet in length with the parabolic main span consisting of a 179-foot open spandrel rib-type reinforced concrete deck arch. The structure is significant as one of the few concrete arch bridges built during the 1941-1950 era. The high vault of its arch accentuates the precipitous gorge which it crosses, lending a sense of old-world enchantment to this remote setting. Situated in a mountainous forest environment, the graceful concrete arch bridge spanning Jim Creek is one of the most aesthetically pleasing concrete arch bridges built in the 1941-1950 era. The elegant structure is all the more remarkable because it was constructed during World War II (1944 and 1945) when bridge construction was substantially curtailed due to a severe shortages of construction manpower and availability of materials. Construction of the Jim Creek Bridge epitomized the ingenuity and resourcefulness of civilian agencies in completing substantial public works projects during a time of severe material shortages.