Beauty in building the new Pinto Creek Bridge

There's something beautiful about building a bridge. Whether it's the satisfying geometry of a bridge's lines and shapes or the sheer immensity of its size, the various construction stages are a sight to see. 

And when it comes to the new Pinto Creek Bridge on US 60, you have the added appeal of stunning desert scenery and staggering slopes set against an Arizona blue sky. You can see for yourself in this spectacular slideshow captured by a talented ADOT photographer. 

Motorists traveling along US 60 between Superior and Globe recently might have been lucky enough to catch a glimpse of a sky-high crane hoisting 35 massive girders into place.  

This was not a trifling matter. These girders weigh between 450,000 and 70,000 pounds. That's between 25 and 35 tons. And they range in length from 91 to 127 feet. 

The new bridge will be 695.5 feet length and supported by three piers rising from a canyon floor. It is being built adjacent to the old one, which was erected in 1949 and will be removed. Despite multiple life-extending projects, the 72-year-old span is still safe for motorists but nearing the end of its usefulness. 

The next US 60 closures are expected to take place overnight when crews pour bridge-deck concrete in mid-summer. A five-day closure will be scheduled when the bridge is nearing completion toward the end of the summer. 

You can sign up to receive traffic alerts relating to the bridge's construction at the project's page on our website or using this electronic signup sheet here. And you can always check az511.gov to find up-to-date information on construction or other restrictions.

During scheduled closures of US 60, motorists will be detoured to State Route 77 and State Route 177. This detour could add as many as 45 minutes to a trip, however, travel time may be significantly longer depending on the driver's starting point and destination.