The Four Bears Bridge is a vehicular bridge spanning the Missouri River in North Dakota, United States. It carries North Dakota Highway 24 (ND 24) across the river, linking the communities of Fort Berthold and the town of New Town on the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. The structure is a steel tied‑arch bridge with a main span of approximately 400 feet (122 m) and an overall length of about 1,300 feet (396 m). The bridge provides two travel lanes, a pedestrian walkway, and a bicycle path.
Design and construction
The bridge employs a tied‑arch (also called a bow‑string) configuration, in which the arch rib is supported by a tension tie that carries the horizontal thrust, allowing the arch to be erected without massive abutments. The deck is supported by vertical suspenders attached to the arch. The superstructure is fabricated from high‑strength steel, and the substructure consists of concrete piers founded in the riverbed.
Construction began in 2004 and was completed in 2005. The project was funded jointly by the North Dakota Department of Transportation, the Federal Highway Administration, and the Standing Rock Sioux Tribe. The bridge replaced an older, lower‑capacity crossing that had become functionally obsolete and was subject to frequent closures due to flooding and structural concerns.
Naming
The bridge is named for Four Bears (c. 1840 – 1904), a respected chief of the Mandan tribe who was known for his leadership and efforts to promote peace among the tribes of the Upper Missouri region. The naming reflects the cultural significance of the bridge to the Standing Rock Sioux and Mandan communities, and a dedication ceremony was held in September 2005, attended by tribal leaders, state officials, and members of the public.
Usage and significance
Four Bears Bridge serves as a critical transportation link for residents of the Standing Rock Reservation, facilitating commerce, emergency services, and daily travel. It also provides a scenic viewpoint of the Missouri River and surrounding prairie landscape, and it is incorporated into regional tourism routes that highlight the natural and cultural heritage of the area.
References
- North Dakota Department of Transportation, “Four Bears Bridge Project Summary,” 2005.
- Standing Rock Sioux Tribe, “Dedication of Four Bears Bridge,” Tribal Press Release, September 2005.
- Federal Highway Administration, “Bridge Inventory Data,” accessed 2024.
Note: All information presented is drawn from publicly available governmental and tribal sources.