Donner Summit Bridge 4K
Donner Summit Bridge 4K. Considered one of the most beautiful bridges in California,
Rainbow Bridge overlooks Donner Lake just below Donner Summit. The 240-foot bridge was completed in 1925 as part of a general upgrade of the Lincoln Highway leading up from Donner Lake. The concrete span is similar to others built during the 1920s, but Rainbow Bridge is unique in that it was the first bridge built with an elevation change and a grand, compound curve. In 1928, much of the
Lincoln Highway including Rainbow Bridge was converted to Highway 40 - the only major east-west route spanning from Atlantic City to San Francisco until Interstate I80 was built in 1960. In 2007, a huge bear was trapped on the bridge. As it was walking across the bridge, 2 cars also crossed and scared it into
jumping over the edge. Somehow the bear caught the
ledge and was able to pull itself to safety! At one point the bear
tested its ability to climb down by lowering its feet down the side but decided against that idea and pulled itself back up. After unsuccessful attempts ran late, rescuers decided that nothing further could be done to help until the next day. The next morning they returned to find the bear sound asleep and still
perched precariously on the ledge! After securing an elaborate safety net under the bridge the bear was tranquilized, fell into the net, lowered, then woke up and walked out of the net. The section of Old Highway 40 across the Rainbow Bridge is still considered one of the most scenic stretches of highway in the country. Visit the Donner Summit
Historical Society for more information on Rainbow Bridge, Old Highway 40 and
surrounding areas of interest at donnersummithistoricalsociety.org