Joso Bridge

The historic Joso Bridge spans the river canyon and is still an active Union Pacific railroad bridge.

Built between 1910 and 1914, this bridge shortened the route between Hinkle and Spokane significantly but at a high cost to the railroad – both monetarily and through the loss of life during construction. The bridge has 55 spans and is 3920 feet long and is the longest and highest bridge in the Union Pacific system. It also stands about 261 feet above the bottom of the Snake River, but once Lower Monument Dam was constructed in 1968 water submerged the lower portion of the bridge piers leaving only 194′ between the top of the bridge and the surface of the river.