Phil G. McDonald Bridge

The Phil G. McDonald Memorial Bridge, also known as the Glade Creek Bridge, is a deck truss bridge located in Raleigh County, West Virginia near the city of Beckley. The bridge is among the ten highest bridges in the United States, and the highest bridge within the Interstate Highway System being a part of I-64,[1] with a deck height of 700 ft (213 m) above Glade Creek.[2][3] The bridge is also among the top hundred highest bridges in the world.[4]

Phil G. McDonald Bridge
Phil G. McDonald Bridge from bottom of Glade Creek canyon
Coordinates	37.768333°N 81.041667°W / 37.768333; -81.041667
Carries	4 lanes of I-64
Crosses	Glade Creek (New River)
Locale	Beckley, West Virginia, United States
Other name(s)	Glade Creek Bridge
Owner	West Virginia Department of Transportation
Characteristics
Design	Deck truss
Total length	2,179 ft (664 m)
Height	700 ft (213 m)
Longest span	784 ft (239 m)
History
Construction cost	$29 million[1]
Opened	July 15, 1988
Location

The bridge is named after West Virginia native Phill G. McDonald (the official bridge name is missing the second 'L') who was a United States Army soldier and a recipient of the United States military's highest decoration—the Medal of Honor—for his actions in the Vietnam War.[1][5] The bridge has a main span length of 784 ft (239 m) and a total length of 2,179 ft (664 m).[3][4] The completion of the bridge was the final part of I-64 to be built in West Virginia with Governor Arch Moore opening the bridge at a ribbon-cutting ceremony on 15 July 1988.[1]