Donner Summit Bridge - Donner Pass, CA
Posted by: 
Volcanoguy
N 39° 19.163 W 120° 19.120
10S E 731150 N 4355648
The Donner Summit Bridge, also known as the Donner Memorial Bridge, and the Rainbow Bridge.
Waymark Code: WMW04J
Location: California, United States
Date Posted: 06/19/2017
Views: 4
The Donner Summit Bridge is a concrete arch bridge which was completed in 1926 and under went rehabilitation in 1996. The bridge is 241 feet long with a 24 foot wide deck and rises about 80 feet above the depression it crosses.
Before the Donner Summit Bridge was built the old Lincoln Highway wound steeply down from Donner Summit with grades as high as 18%. The new alignment of the Lincoln Highway, of which the Donner Summit Bridge was part of resulted in maximum grades of 7%. The Donner Summit Bridge was a common design for the 1920’s but was also unique because it had a grade and a compound curve which had never been done before.
More information on the Donner Summit Bridge:
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Length of bridge: 241.2 feet
Height of bridge: ~80 feet
What type of traffic does this bridge support?: motor vehicles
What kind of gap does this bridge cross?:
Rugged terrain - depression in glaciated granitic terrain
Date constructed: 1925 - 1926
Is the bridge still in service for its original purpose?: Yes
Name of road or trail the bridge services: Donner Pass Road (old U.S. Hwy. 40)
Location:
Nevada County, California
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Visit Instructions:
Please submit a photo(s) taken by you of your visit to the location (non-copyrighted photos only). GPS photos are also accepted with the location in the background, and old vacation photos are accepted. If you are not able to provide a photo, then please describe your visit or give a story about the visit. If the bridge location prevents you from taking a safe photograph, then please do not stop to take the photo. Safety is more important.