Navajo Bridge & Marble Canyon | Aerial Arizona

The Navajo Bridge spans Marble Canyon, 470 feet above the Colorado River in Grand Canyon National Park.
At the time of its construction, in 1929, the Navajo Bridge was the highest steel arch bridge in the United States, and for the next 66 years it served as the only crossing of the Colorado River for 600 miles.
During construction, a ferry was essential for transporting men, tools, construction materials and heavy building equipment. However, on June 7, 1928, high waters, a weakened ferryboat, and worn cables resulted in disaster. The ferry capsized with three men and a Model T Ford on board. Coconino County refused to replace the ferry, causing extensive construction delays. For the next seven months, construction equipment and materials were brought in by truck, requiring an 800-mile journey around the canyon.
The bridge was functional for the era in which it was constructed. However, its load capacity of 22.5 tons and width of just 18 feet failed to serve the needs of modern vehicles. Studies began in the early 1990s to determine the best solution to the problem. Consideration was given to strengthening the bridge, but the costly option was deemed impractical. Several alternate sites were considered, but the final decision was to build a stronger and wider parallel bridge beside the existing structure. The new bridge was completed in 1995 and the original structure remains in service as a pedestrian crossing.
Marble Canyon, Arizona is a majestic destination for adventure seekers and nature lovers.
The limestone of this canyon appears smooth and polished that people often mistake the material to be marble.
Despite the glassy and smooth appearance of the natural stones that make up a vast majority of its landscape, 'marble' is a misleading term. In fact, the topography is made from a variety of natural stones including sandstone and limestones. It got its name due when pioneer explorer and renowned Civil War Veteran, Major John Wesley Powell and his team witnessed the marble-like appearance of sand and limestone a thousand feet in thickness in the upper portion of the canyon.
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