The Remarkable Bridge In Hawaii That Everyone Should Visit At Least Once
By Megan Shute|Published September 25, 2018
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Megan Shute
Author
With more than 10 years of experience as a professional writer, Megan holds a degree in Mass Media from her home state of Minnesota. After college, she chose to trade in her winter boots for slippahs and moved to the beautiful island of Oahu, where she has been living for more than five years. She lives on the west side but is constantly taking mini-road trips across the island and visits the neighboring islands whenever she can getaway. She loves hiking, snorkeling, locally-grown coffee, and finding the best acai bowl on Oahu.
Though the Hawaiian Islands may not have a plethora of rivers and lakes, the Aloha State is still full of gorgeous bridges that cross over streams, creeks, and even the Pacific Ocean. From swinging rope footbridges to massive feats of engineering, bridges in Hawaii are as unique as the people who reside here. There is one bridge, though, that everyone needs to visit at least once.
An islet in the center of Pearl Harbor, Ford Island measures in at more than 400 acres. The island was sold to the U.S. Army in 1916 for use by an aviation division and later taken over by the U.S. Navy in 1939 as a station for battleship and submarine maintenance.
The entire island was designated as a U.S. National Historic Landmark in 1964, as well as listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1976, and it’s easy to see why. However, perhaps the most fascinating thing about this little island in the middle of Pearl Harbor is the bridge leading to it.
Featuring a 930-foot pontoon section that can be retracted under the fixed bridge in order to accommodate the Navy’s largest battleships and aircraft carriers to pass through as well as a 650-foot wide channel and a 100-foot wide, 3-foot high opening for smaller craft under an elevated span, this bridge is one-of-a-kind.
This remarkable bridge is one of only a few floating bridges, and it’s floating moveable span is the largest worldwide. In 1999, the bridge’s design earned an award of merit for outstanding projects from the American Society of Civil Engineers as well as the United States Department of Transportation Honor Award for design excellence in 2000.
In addition to being a fascinating feat of engineering, the Ford Island Bridge is surrounded by some of the island's prettiest scenery and features some pretty stellar views.
The only way to access Ford Island prior to the bridge’s opening in 1998 was via ferry boats operated by Naval personnel. Today, the island is accessible by members of the Armed Forces and DoD cardholders, as well as by those who visit the Pearl Harbor Historic Sites as part of a tour group.
