Two bridges, named as one, span a remote canyon in Arizona. The first, built in 1928, linked Arizona to southern Utah. As vehicles became wider and carried larger loads, the narrow roadway and small load capacity made it inadequate for modern traffic. The Arizona Department of Transportation built a new parallel bridge in 1994, keeping the first as a pedestrian crossing. Ralph Hoffman, designer of the first bridge, faced immense logistical obstacles of building in an isolated, primitive area. Jerry Cannon, designer of the second bridge, faced the political complications of building in one of the country's most environmentally sensitive sites, Grand Canyon National Park. Jerry recounts how both men overcame almost insurmountable challenges, designing practical structures to fit into a rugged and beautiful landscape.

Presented by:

Jerry Cannon, SE, PE.

After working as a Structural Engineer for contractors and consulting engineers in Arizona and California, and teaching part-time at the University of Arizona about structural design, I decided to start the firm of Cannon & Associates, Inc. in 1979.

Some of our early projects in Tucson included the Tucson International Airport expansion, the MacArthur Building rehabilitiation, the Temple of Music and Art Rehabilitation, the 4th Avenue Underpass, and the Kino Boulevard crossing of the railroad.

In 1986 Cannon & Associates was selected to design the Navajo Bridge over the Colorado River, one of Arizona’s most historic bridges. In 2022 I retired after writing my first book, Arizona’s Historic Bridges which is the topic for tonight’s presentation. Currently, I’m finishing my second book which is about the Navajo Bridge.

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