Someone stopped me in Trader Joe's the other day to talk about the railroad bridge that crosses the Santa Ana River into Jurupa from Riverside. It is located east of Van Buren Boulevard. This gentleman wanted to know why no one ever mentioned this bridge. Well, it is really simple - the bridge is almost impossible to see from any public road! It is most visible from Martha McLean-Anza Narrows Park in Riverside or if you go hiking in the riverbottom. A bit of the bridge can be seen from the very end of Riverview Drive or if you follow Pedley Road, south of Limonite, down and around towards Van Buren. The bridge is really one of the great historic wonders of both Jurupa and Riverside, since it lies in both of our fair cities.
Building began in 1903 on what was then the longest concrete bridge in the world. It is over 300 yards long with eight graceful arches over the river and smaller arches at either end. Many postcards were published over the years showing this lovely bridge.
As for it being forgotten or ignored, I will agree that it does not get the attention it deserves. However, the last issue of the Journal of the Riverside Historical Society Journal did have a nice article by Glen Wenzel about the construction of the bridge. Copies of the Journal are still available from the Riverside Historical Society.
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