Frederick W. Panhorst, Charles H. Purcell, and Harvey D. Stover designed the open-spandrel bridge over Bixby Creek, 120 miles south of San Francisco on Highway 1. It was completed in 1932 at the beginning of the Great Depression.
At a 320 ft span and 260 ft clearance, it is one of the tallest single-span concrete bridges in the world. The minimal concrete structure was built to support 6 times the original anticipated traffic load, important for earthquake country. In 1998, the bridge received a further $20 million seismic retrofit, designed by Buckland & Taylor.
As one of the first public works projects intended to create jobs and stimulate the sluggish economy, this project focused on “harmony between man and the environment.” It eliminated a 30 mile detour that had previously been necessary in the transit between Carmel and Big Sur. Builders attempted to make minimal impact to the beautiful environment, using concrete that blends in with the hillside stone.
