Perrine Bridge

The I. B. Perrine Bridge is a four-lane truss arch span over the Snake River in the western United States. Located in southern Idaho just north of the city of Twin Falls, it carries U.S. Highway 93 over the Snake River Canyon, connecting Twin Falls County with Interstate 84 in Jerome County.

For the covered bridge in New York state, see Perrine's Bridge.

Perrine Bridge
Perrine Bridge in July 2004
Coordinates42.600°N 114.4537°W / 42.600; -114.4537
Carries4 lanes of US 93
CrossesSnake River
LocaleTwin Falls, Idaho, U.S.
Official nameI. B. Perrine Bridge
Characteristics
Total length1,500 feet (457 m)
Width64.6 feet (19.7 m)
Longest span993 feet (303 m)[1]
Clearance below486 feet (148 m)[1]
History
Opened1976 (1976)
1927 - original
(96 years ago)
Location
Perrine Bridge is located in the United States
Perrine Bridge
Perrine Bridge
Location in the United States
Perrine Bridge is located in Idaho
Perrine Bridge
Perrine Bridge
Location in Idaho

Description

The Perrine Bridge is approximately 1,500 feet (457 m) in total length, with a main span of 993 feet (303 m). Its deck height of 486 feet (148 m) above the Snake River is the eighth highest in the United States; the elevation of the roadway is approximately 3,600 feet (1,100 m) above sea level.

The bridge is named for I. B. Perrine (1861–1943), who spearheaded the early 20th century irrigation projects in the Magic Valley region and is largely credited as the main founder of Twin Falls; a statue of Perrine is at the visitors' center at the south end of the bridge.

History

Originally named the Twin Falls-Jerome Intercounty Bridge, a steel cantilever bridge was opened to traffic 96 years ago in September 1927,[2] and formally dedicated by governor H. C. Baldridge on October 1, 1927.[3] The privately financed $750,000 structure[4] (equivalent to $9.5 million in 2021 dollars) was originally a toll bridge; the tolls were eliminated in April 1940 after the bridge was purchased by the state of Idaho for $482,000 (equivalent to $7.4 million in 2021 dollars).[5]

By the early 1970s, the original bridge was outdated and unable to handle heavy loads and required replacement. Construction of the current bridge began in May 1973,[6] and was completed in July 1976 at a cost of $10.56 million[7] (equivalent to $40 million in 2021 dollars). The new bridge was dedicated on July 31, 1976;[7] the original cantilever bridge to the west was later disassembled.

Tourism

Located at the southwest end of the Perrine Bridge is the Twin Falls Visitor Center featuring souvenirs and gifts, Idaho products, visitor information, and interactive exhibits highlighting the recreational and historical activities and attractions in the region. The visitor center has views of the canyon, bridge, and access to the trail system along the canyon rim. Trails go under the bridge on either side which offers vantage points of the bridge and its structure.

To the east, along the south rim of the canyon, lies the dirt ramp used by Evel Knievel when he unsuccessfully attempted his Snake River Canyon jump on the Skycycle X-2 in September 1974;[8][9] the jump failed because of a parachute malfunction.[10] The ramp where he made the leap sits on private property about 1.6 miles (2.6 km) east of the bridge and is visible from the bridge as well as various vantage points along the Canyon Trail.[11] A memorial to Knievel is located near the bridge;[12] it was dedicated in September 1985, at a small ceremony attended by Knievel.[13]

BASE jumping

The Perrine Bridge is a popular BASE jumping site known all over the world;[14] it may be the only man-made structure in the United States where BASE jumping is allowed year-round without a permit.[15] Jumpers often use the nearby visitor center as a home base before and after parachuting from the bridge.

The first documented and video-recorded/photographed jumps from the bridge were in 1987, by three residents of Twin Falls (former U.S. Army paratroopers) who static line jumped the bridge using military surplus MC1-1B parachutes. It was done after a test drop of a 55-gallon (210 liter) drum in a T-10 parachute harness and canopy was used. Multiple successful jumps were conducted without incident or injury.

In the early 1990s, bungee jumping and parachuting off the bridge gained popularity, but was still against the law;[16][17] by the end of the decade, BASE jumping was legal.[18] In July 2006, Dan Schilling jumped off the bridge 201 times in 21 hours to raise money for charity;[19] Schilling was hoisted to the top of the bridge by a crane after every jump. Three base jumpers have to date perished jumping from the Perrine Bridge; Brandon John Chance, James E Hickey, and Kristin Renee Czyz.

Bridge photos
  • Perrine Bridge, aerial view
    Perrine Bridge, aerial view
  • Perrine Bridge, aerial view
    Perrine Bridge from the southwest, June 2007
  • Perrine Bridge from the southwest, June 2007
    A BASE jumper leaps off the Perrine Bridge
  • A BASE jumper leaps off the Perrine Bridge
    Original cantilever bridge (1927), from a 1950s postcard

See also

References
  1. "Perrine Bridge". HighestBridges.com. Eric Sakowski. December 9, 2009. Archived from the original on May 13, 2016. Retrieved October 31, 2016.
  2. "News Notes". The Millard County Progress. Fillmore, Utah. September 23, 1927. Retrieved August 12, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  3. "Bridge Dedicated". Salt Lake Telegram. AP. October 1, 1927. Retrieved August 12, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  4. "Lofty Idaho Bridge Opened". Standard-Examiner. Ogden, Utah. AP. September 27, 1927. Retrieved August 12, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  5. "Twin Falls Span Tolls Lifted With Celebration". Post Register. Idaho Falls, Idaho. AP. April 30, 1940. Retrieved August 12, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  6. "Treasure trove of Perrine Brridge construction slides discovered; slides donated to library, available on D-4 server". Idaho Transportation Department. January 21, 2011. Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved April 24, 2016.
  7. "Idaho briefs". Idaho Free Press. Nampa, Idaho. UPI. August 2, 1976. Retrieved August 12, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  8. "Jump fails, but Knievel uninjured". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. (New York Times). September 9, 1974. p. 1.
  9. Jones, Robert F. (September 2, 1974). "Make it or break it". Sports Illustrated. p. 52.
  10. "Metal fatigue blamed". The Bulletin. Bend, Oregon. Associated Press. September 9, 1974. p. 1.
  11. "Evel Knievel Jump Site – Twin Falls, Idaho, Idaho Tourism". Archived from the original on October 16, 2014. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
  12. "Evel Knievel's Snake River Jump Monument". roadsideamerica.com. Retrieved August 12, 2017.
  13. "No crowds attracted by dedication of monument to Snake River jump". Great Falls Tribune. Great Falls, Montana. AP. September 10, 1985. Retrieved August 12, 2017 – via newspapers.com.
  14. Miller, John (June 11, 2005). "Idaho bridge draws jumpers from around the world". Moscow-Pullman Daily News. Idaho-Washington. Associated Press. p. 6.
  15. "Tips for Jumping the Perrine Bridge". BASE JUMPING ::: APEX BASE. Retrieved October 9, 2014.Miles Daisher, Red Bull Athlete Profile
  16. "Bungee jumper lands himself in jail". Idahonian. Moscow. Associated Press. July 5, 1991. p. 3A.
  17. "Twin Falls is jumping all over bungee jumpers". Deseret News. Salt Lake City, Utah. Associated Press. September 10, 1991. p. B3.
  18. "Idaho not chasing jumpers". Lodi News-Sentinel. California. Associated Press. October 23, 1999. p. 6.
  19. "BASE Jumper Makes It Final At 201, Times News". Twin Falls Times-News. Retrieved October 9, 2014.
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