The Coconino sun., 1926-11-12
LEES FERRY BRIDGE
PLANS ARE COMPLETE

Recent reports reaching the office
Of the SUPERINTENDENT of Grand Can
Won National park indicate that pre-
liminary surveys of the Lees Ferry
bridge site across the Colorado river
have been completed, and plans for
the structure are now being prepared
by the United States bureau Of public
roads.
According to information received
here, two sites, especially, are being
given consideration. Both are about
six miles below the present ferry, and
differ only in their elevation above
the river and length of span.
The lower span is the, shorter, and
consequently the cheaper of the two;
however, the approaches will involve
a considerable amount of heavy road
construction, and under the best con-
ditions these will not be entirely sat
isfactory.
On the upper site the span will be
between the top walls of Marble can
yon, and at this point the floor of
the bridge viii be about 400 feet
above the water. The walls of the
canyon are practically sheer drop
from a level plain, and cars can be
driven overland to either end of the
proposed bridge now, so there will be
little expense involved in building
the approaches. This is the location
selected by the Denver and Rio
Grande railroad in 1888 as the point
where it would cross the Colorado
river with the then proposed north
and south main line If bridge can
be built here with the amount of
money available, j will be given pref
erence over all others, but the indica-
tions are that this can hardly be ac-
complished.
Either of these bridges will short
en the distance from Winslow or
Flagstaff to Fredonia by about 90
miles, and will eliminate practically
all bad stretches of road, including
the notorious "dugway."
Speaking of this proposed develop
ment, G. G.. Bolton, acting superin-
tendent of the park, said: although
not in the Grand Canyon National
park, officials of the United States
department of the interior, of which
the national park service is a bureau,
are vitally interested in this bridge.
ment agency that is officially pro-
IlOUlHS IOuIlSl tIdNGl III ItlC OHILSd
States, and bridge at Lees Ferry
will have far-reaching effect on
motor travel in the west. 1t will be
the only major north and south high
way for $50 miles in either direction,
and will be across a country even
more remotely removed from rail-
road 1t will directly connect such
Outstanding scenic features as the
Grand Canyon, Zion and Yellowstone
national parks, as well as other fea-
| tures, such as the Painted Desert Of
Arizona, Canyon Of the Little Colo
RADIO and some of the unique sights
Of southern Utah. Although the in
creased tourist movement resulting
| from this development will be of
benefit to the entire west, it is impos-
sible to estimate the benefits to be
derived by the states of Arizona and
Utah"
Continuing his statement, Mr.. Boil
ton said:l "The proposed bridge will
be cooperative arrangement be-
tween the federal government and the
state of Arizona 1t is understood
| that work will commence as soon as
the state votes its half Of the 100000
which is the estimated cost Of the
work. There is every indication that
this will be done during the next ses-
sion of the state legislature"