Western Railroad Discussion > Barstow's First Avenue Bridge to be replaced

With all the recent talk of the Mt. Vernon overpass in San Bernardino, the the "Twin Bridges" in East Victorville being removed/replaced, it's worth mentioning that the First Ave. bridge over the "Old Yard" in Barstow is scheduled to be replaced soon. Get your pix while you can.

https://www.vvdailypress.com/story/business/transportation/2021/03/28/barstows-first-avenue-bridge-must-come-down-after-replacement-complete-officials-says/7028958002/?

Thank you for the link and here's a grab shot of part of the bridge taken last Sunday morning.

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That's a Pre-Columbian artifact.

That bridge was the connector from old Route 66 thru Barstow to highways 91/466 that went to Vegas in pre-Interstate 15 days.

US 466 also went WEST to Mojave-Tehachapi- Bakersfield--the road mentioned in "The Grapes of Wrath" as they swung downhill by Woodford.

It is necesssry to change it, but it is a sad news for those who loves these old bridges type. I visited Barstow in 2013 and had a chance to photograph many trains from that bridge. 

Pedro Rezende
Vespasiano MG,
https://youtube.com/c/minasgeraisrailways1

I'm genuinely amazed they are actually going to replace the thing and not just simply remove the dated crossing over the old Barstow yard all together. The much shorter and newer Yucca Ave crossing is just one mile to the east of this location. I'd bet BNSF would prefer to simply eliminate the over crossing.

I get the historical context of the location and all, but 99.5% of the vehicles through Barstow cross under the RR tracks on I-15 already and probably don't even know or care that this particular spot is/was where Route 66 ran. And they won't be making the detour through downtown just to see the new bridge, adding 5 min drive time to or from Las Vegas.

That said, Bravo to Barstow for sticking to their historical roots to build a completely new bridge complex through the area.

~ Mr. MRL

MrMRL Wrote:
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> I'm genuinely amazed they are actually going to
> replace the thing and not just simply remove the
> dated crossing over the old Barstow yard all
> together. The much shorter and newer Yucca Ave
> crossing is just one mile to the east of this
> location. I'd bet BNSF would prefer to simply
> eliminate the over crossing.

The 1st Street bridge is the main connection between Barstow and the North Barstow area.

The Yucca Ave bridge and Riverside Dr is an undersized and LONG WAY AROUND for local traffic to get between Barstow and North Barstow.

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This has been annunced since the 70s, nice to maybe finally see it happen?

Out 

I remember seeing the early Santa Fe FTs from that bridge.  Also it sticks in my mind -- or rather stomach -- that Route 66 between Barstow and Cajon Pass was really an up and down sea sick ride as it followed the railroad. 

Copy19 - Omaha

Yes there was a stretch East of Oro Grande that wasn't fun in the back seat and I swear Dad was
trying to get all four wheels off the ground.

Out