The legend of Lakina River Bridge in Alaska
Located in the Valdez-Cordova Census Area, in the U.S. state of Alaska, the Lakina River Bridge is a significant crossing in the Wrangell-St. Elias National Park and Preserve. It was one of the most spectacular bridges in the world.
What Was the Lakina River Bridge Like?
Tucked away in Wrangell-St. Elias National Park, the old steel truss bridge was located at milepost 44.3 of the gravel McCarthy Road (often closed in the winter). The bridge spanned the Lakina River, providing a crucial crossing on the historic 60-mile gravel road, originally built in the early 1900s to support the Kennecott Copper Mines. The bridge was 190 feet long, with a weight limit of 32 tons.
How Was the Lakina River Bridge Destroyed?
It’s not just floods and avalanches that shut down remote roads in Alaska—sometimes human error plays a part too. According to local legend, the bridge was heavily damaged by a rogue trucker hauling an overweight load. After nearly destroying the bridge, the (alleged) driver reportedly fled the scene and was never caught.
When Was the New Lakina River Bridge Built?
The old bridge was already compromised by flooding, but the trucker’s actions finished the job. A new bridge—a concrete bulb-tee girder bridge—was completed on October 31, 2016, replacing the older structure. The modern bridge is built to handle heavier loads and prevent damage from the frequent spring floods caused by glacial melt and seasonal river surges. There is no longer any trace of the old bridge, as it was likely deconstructed and removed by the State of Alaska.
Road suggested by: Jack Dalton