Texas is home to many impressive bridges, but none quite compare to Rainbow Bridge in Port Arthur. Not only is it the tallest bridge in the state, but it’s also among the oldest — and, in our opinion, one of the most thrilling, as well! Take a look:
Guided by the Texas State Highway Department, construction on the Rainbow Bridge began in 1936. It was completed two years later, and the nearby town of Prairie View became Bridge City in commemoration.
Flickr/Nicolas Henderson
After being originally named the “Port Arthur-Orange Bridge,” a name change was enacted in 1957. The bridge was finally added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1996.
Flickr/Patrick Feller
Standing at 230 feet tall, the historic truss bridge is the largest in Texas. For a time, it was the second-highest in all of America!
Flickr/Patrick Feller
With a vertical clearance of 177 feet, the bridge was designed to accommodate what was once the largest ship in the U.S. Navy: USS Patoka. The immense height of the Rainbow Bridge also allowed for the construction of offshore drilling rigs at the Bethlehem Steel Beaumont Shipyard.
Wikipedia/Aren Cambre
Driving on the 680-foot long bridge is an exhilarating experience, albeit a little bit scary. Driver’s Education students in the area have to conquer it as their final assignment before tackling the permit test – needless to say, they’re well-prepared!
Flickr/Patrick Feller
Texas sunsets are always a sight for sore eyes, but even more so when they illuminate an architectural wonder. A picturesque view if we’ve ever seen one!
Wikipedia/Blakemul
Address: 3115 Edgar Brown Drive, West Orange, TX 77630.
Google Maps
Have you ever driven over the Rainbow Bridge? If so, is it as impressive as pictures suggest? Let us know, and check out our previous article for more bridges in the Lone Star State: You’ll Want To Cross These 15 Beautiful Bridges In Texas.
Flickr/Nicolas Henderson
Flickr/Patrick Feller
Wikipedia/Aren Cambre
Wikipedia/Blakemul
Google Maps
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Address: 3115 Edgar Brown Dr, West Orange, TX 77630, USA
