When built in 1913, it was the highest concrete arch bridge in the world.
The bridge was designed by architects Waddell & Harrington and built by the Mercereau Bridge and Construction Company.
Its construction required the use of over 11,000 cubic yards of concrete.
The bridge features a significant curve, which was a necessity to connect the street grades on either side of the canyon.
During the 1993 restoration, engineers added steel reinforcement to the piers to protect against seismic activity.
The bridge's original lights were removed in the 1940s and replaced with modern fixtures, but these were returned to their 1913 design during the 1990s restoration.
The Colorado Street Bridge is a reinforced concrete arch bridge completed in 1913, spanning the Arroyo Seco canyon in Pasadena. It spans 1,467 feet in length and reaches a height of 150 feet above the canyon floor. Originally designed as a link in the Lincoln Highway, it features distinctive Beaux-Arts style lamp posts and decorative railings. The bridge was extensively rehabilitated between 1990 and 1993 to improve seismic stability and restore original ornamental features. It is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is designated as a California Historical Landmark. The structure consists of eleven unequal arches supporting a curved deck alignment.
The lower trails in the Arroyo Seco park looking upward at the arches.
Walk the full length of the bridge on the pedestrian sidewalk for the best perspective of the canyon.
Access the lower Arroyo Seco trails for a ground-level view of the arch construction.
Bring a light jacket as the canyon floor and bridge deck can be significantly cooler than the surrounding city.
Do not attempt to cross the bridge on the road side, as vehicle speeds are high and there is no shoulder.
Respect the pedestrian-only walkway zones and remain within marked barriers.
