The Scariest Bridge in Arizona Will Have You On the Edge of Your Seat

Arizona is one of the most popular states for individuals looking to move. The desert is teeming with wildlife, and the cities have centuries of rich history. But if you want to get a birds-eye view of the desert, one of the highest places you can visit is an engineering marvel. Keep reading to learn more about the scariest bridge in Arizona and what makes it so unique.

Where Is the Scariest Bridge in Arizona?

The scariest bridge in Arizona is only partially in Arizona. The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge, or the Hoover Dam Bypass Bridge, connects Arizona to Nevada through the Black Canyon within the Lake Mead National Recreation Area. It carries U.S. Route 93 and Interstate 11 over the Colorado River. The structure stretches through 2.3 miles of Nevada and 1.2 miles of Arizona. Las Vegas is about 30 miles away.

Construction of the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

The Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge is 1,500 feet downstream from the Hoover Dam and is an incredible architectural wonder. The structure is 1,900 feet long with an impressive main span of 1,060 feet. Moreover, it’s the highest and longest single-span concrete arch bridge in the Western Hemisphere.

This gravity-defying structure is the scariest bridge in Arizona because of its incredible height. The structure has 886 feet of clearance underfoot. Drivers note high winds and challenging conditions, keeping them at the edge of their seats as they travel. It’s also a four-lane road with a pedestrian walkway for those who aren’t afraid of heights. Due to Las Vegas traffic, the roadway is frequently congested.

T.Y. Lin International created the awe-inspiring bridge using a combination of concrete and steel with twin-ribbed arch supports. The design can withstand earthquakes, heavy winds, and traffic. The bridge opened in 2010 as a critical component to the Hoover Dam Bypass Project.

History of the Scariest Bridge in Arizona

Government officials deemed the original U.S. Route 93 over the Hoover Dam dangerous and inadequate for daily traffic. From 1998 to 2001, Arizona and Nevada officials collaborated to create an alternative. The location for the project was selected in 2003, then construction began in 2005. It was completed in 2010.

Furthermore, construction required workers and materials to be hoisted above the Colorado River using 2,300-foot-long steel cables held by an intricate crane system. Its concrete-steel hybrid and arch design is the first of its kind in the United States and incorporates the widest concrete arch in the Western Hemisphere. It’s also the second-highest bridge in the United States after the Royal Gorge Bridge near Canon City, Colorado.

Since 2010, traffic has been restricted over the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge. However, travelers can still drive over the Hoover Dam. The catch is that you have to turn back around once you’re on the Arizona side.

Naming of the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge

The name for the Hoover Dam Bypass Project, and the scariest bridge in Arizona, was unveiled at a ceremony in 2004 by Nevada Governor Kenny Guinn and Arizona Governor Janet Napolitano. They named the record-breaking bridge after two prominent American figures.

Donal Neil “Mike” O’Callaghan was a decorated Korean War veteran and served two terms as governor in Nevada from 1971 through 1979. Patrick “Pat” Tillman played football for Arizona State University but walked away from a multimillion-dollar career in the NFL to enlist in the U.S. Army. Sadly, he was killed in Afghanistan. Today, the Pat Tillman Foundation provides academic scholarships to military service members, veterans, and their spouses in his honor.

Wildlife Near the Scariest Bridge in Arizona

At a glance, the desert surrounding the scariest bridge in Arizona would seem void of wildlife. However, the desert is alive and thriving with animals, plants, insects, fish, and reptiles that have adapted to the heat.

One of the most magnificent animals spotted in the region are bighorn sheep. In fact, they are the official state animal of Nevada. They typically travel in herds, so you may be lucky to spot an entire family if you are walking along the pedestrian bridge.

Coyotes, ringtail cats, antelope ground squirrels, mountain lions, and bats are some of the most common mammals in the area. On the other hand, there are over 40 species of reptiles and 12 amphibians throughout Lake Mead. Those roaming beneath the Mike O’Callaghan-Pat Tillman Memorial Bridge include the desert tortoise, desert iguana, rattlesnakes, and king snakes.

But let’s not forget about the birds. Roadrunners, turkey vultures, and ravens are a few of the birds taking flight above the Hoover Dam.