Save the Fruita Bridge

The Fruita Bridge is 100 years old this year!

It is really in need of support; Your Support!

Short History of the bridge:

FRUITA BRIDGE
County Rd. 17.50, over Colorado River
National Register 2/4/1985, 5ME.4532

This three-span, 465 foot long, pinned Parker through truss was started in 1906 and completed in 1907 across the Colorado River, just south of Fruita, Colorado. It is one of only 64 bridges named to the National Register of Historic Places. Not only did it serve as the main roadway south of Fruita until the road was realigned in 1970, it also held the wooden pipeline that carried mountain spring water 23 miles from Glade Park in the Colorado National Monument to the City of Fruita. The original bridge was designed as a oneway automobile or wagon crossing. Prior to this time people and goods could only be ferried across.

100 years on the Colorado River has not been kind to the structure. Since the abandonment in the 70's, the bridge's beams and stringers have suffered fire damage, but the truss is still intact. It is one of the few spans left in the state associated with the engineer M. J. Patterson. Listed under Highway Bridges in Colorado Multiple Property Submission. Currently the bridge piers are being undermined by the spring runoff of the Colorado River.

Fruita City Council Resolution for Saving the Fruita Bridge:

What we plan to do:

The original grants from 1998, which were returned due to increased cost factors associated with the project, are now being re-solicited with the intent of stabilizing the piers as the priority. It is the desire of the Friends of the Bridge to install new wooden decking, removal of rust and old paint and refinish, repair of the steel truss and pins, and the installation of a handrail. The Bridge will then be used as a pedestrian and bicycle bridge that will be part of the county wide trail plan. It will enable users to access the Colorado National Monument via the Dugway Trail, the Dinosaur Hill paleontological area, and a number of other mountain biking trails.

Latest Update on the Bridge

What we need from you:

With the desire to have public support of this project, which also helps with grant matching, we are soliciting "Donations" at this time. If you can donate $5.00 to $5,000, any amount will be greatly appriciated.

I Support the Bridge: (click here for the pdf version of this form)

Every dollar counts - Thanks for your support

Send your donation to:

Fruita Historic Preservation Board
325 East Aspen Avenue
Fruita, CO 81521

Make checks payable to: City of Fruita / Save The Bridge

To contact Ken Henry

Other Links about the bridge:

http://web.mac.com/mjbecker

http://www.coloradopreservation.org/epp/sites/epp_02_06.html