In order to avoid closing one of the most scenic highways in Arizona and forcing motorists on an 80 mile detour, ADOT drew on a design from the past and coupled it with a radical technology from today. The result: a permanent concrete bridge that was built at one location and moved into place . . . a feat that has only been done once before in the United States with a steel bridge and never done with a concrete structure. State route 89A runs through many scenic areas of northern Arizona, but the drive from Flagstaff down Oak Creek Canyon into Sedona is probably one of the prettiest. The route takes one past stands of lush trees that line the Oak Creek and past the famous Slide Rock, long a popular recreational spot.
The original Oak Creek Canyon bridge a steel truss deck, built in 1932-33, connected the north and south side of Oak Creek Canyon. The area is visited by an estimated two million tourist every year. The old bridge was only 20 feet, wide, far too narrow to safely accommodate today's traffic needs.
The new Oak Creek Bridge completed in 1992, was designed to resemble the old
Luten Arch bridge with the use of architectural effects and rock wall facing on the new abutments. The project was done in three phases. Stage one called for keeping traffic on the old bridge, excavation, removing the existing southwest wing wall and replacing with temporary shoring. Also, new abutments were built about three feet west of the existing bridge and the new box girder superstructure was built along with a new northwest retaining wall. In stage two, traffic was detoured onto the new bridge while the existing southeast retaining wall and wingwall and the old bridge were demolished. All debris had to be contained and none could fall into the creek. Sections of the approach slab were also built in stage two. Stage three involved finishing the approached and demolishing the temporary abutments, and moving the new bridge over 26 feet 4 inches into position using bearings coated with Teflon.
