Show i t M MI Mu Mw u w I a. a BRIDGING THE TIlE CANYON is this steel rig arch o over r the Colorado river in southeastern Utah With the ar ar- arches ches connected this week by the Western Steel Company Company Company Com Com- pany pany of Salt Lake City this bridge will be a vital linkin link linkin linkin in the Golden Circle highway which will join scenic A milestone was reached steel rib arches bridging thethis the thethis this week toward opening up Colorado river In southeastern southeast southeast- one of the West's most spectacular spec spec- ern Utah scenic and r recreational recreation recreation- This Is a land of al at areas This was accomplished accomplish accomplish- attractions both man made ed cd with the Joining of giant and nature There is and recreational areas of Utah Colorado Arizona and New Mexico U. U S. S Steels Steel's Geneva Works near Provo produced the steel which went into this bridge and two others in the general vicinity of l Hite te In all aU over 2600 2500 tons of steel were needed for the three bridges Giant Steel fridge Bridge Over C Colorado Joined This Week Lake Powell created by the construction of Glen Canyon Dam There is the nations nation's I newest national park Can- Can I And there are the taking breath-taking natural bridges and other fantastic rock formations formations formations for for- in Utah's standing up country But up to now only the hardy dared venture into this area Only a primitive mile dirt road leading over numerous active wash areas pulls southeastern Utah together for lor the traveller And the only way to cross Lake Powell by automobile Is by an ancient ferry the Hite Ferry Navy All AU this Is rapidly changing With the completion of the foot boot Colorado Bridge bythe by bythe bythe the Western Steel Company of Salt Lake City and the earlier construction of the Dirty Devil Canyon Bridge and the Eagle Canyon Bridge by the same company the bridge chain will soon be a avital a. a vital part of the Golden Circle Circle Cir Or Cir cle highway being built in cooperation with the Federal Government and the states of Utah Colorado Arizona and New Mexico I The next step will be to replace replace replace re re- place that mile dirt road I with a modern highway a astep astep astep step which will link Hanksville Hanks- Hanks ville vile and Blanding over a new Ufah Highway 95 I It was no easy task for Western Steel Company to construct the three bridges Since the location of the sites were In such primitive country country country coun coun- try the company was forced to prefabricate the bridges at Westerns Western's plant In Salt Lake City Using over 2500 tons of steel produced at U. U S. S Steels Steel's Geneva Works near Provo Western milled the giant ribs beams and girders to exact machine tolerances The steel was then shipped miles away on specially reinforced tractors Many problems problems problems pro pro- were encountered In constructing a bridge in such terrain but Western and Utah Highway Department engineers engineers engin engin- solved them all These problems included a frustrating frustrating frustrating ing occurrence when a cent 25 washer was needed and the project engineer had to send sendan an airplane to Salt Lake City to bring the little washer to the site But today the arch ribs of the Colorado Bridge are Joined joined Join join- ed and the bridge at the north end of Lake Powell stands as a beckoning ment to Ingenuity and skill Outstanding scenic and recreational recreational recreational re re- spots lie below and beyond They will be used and enjoyed |