Being from southern West Virginia, we take pride in the New River Gorge Bridge. Upon its completion, a trip north was reduced by over an hour. Previously, traffic had to descend the gorge, cross a single-lane wooden bridge, then ascend the other side of the gorge.
Heck, we even close a major highway to celebrate this accomplishment in October every year! Some daring folks even bungee jump or parasail off the thing.
The New River, itself, is a world-class destination for some of the best -- and most dangerous -- whitewater rafting to be found anywhere.
First some facts:
The New River Gorge Bridge is a steel arch bridge 3,030 feet (924 m) long over the New River Gorge near Fayetteville, Fayette County, West Virginia, in the Appalachian Mountains of the eastern United States. With an arch 1,700 feet (518 m) long, the New River Gorge Bridge was for many years the world's longest single-span arch bridge; it is now the fourth longest. The bridge is crossed by an average of 16,200 motor vehicles per day.
The roadway of the New River Gorge Bridge is 876 feet (267 m) above the New River. Its width is 69.3 ft (21.1 m), containing 4 traffic lanes with a center divider. The New River Gorge Bridge is one of the highest vehicular bridges in the world, and is currently the third highest in the United States. In 2005, the structure gained nationwide attention when the US Mint issued the West Virginia state quarter with the bridge depicted on one side. In 2013, the bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
