Gateway Arch Bridges: A Virtual Cache
The Houston Arch bridges, spanning over US 59 to the West of Downtown, are a collection of seven bridges meant to emulate an iconic gateway to the downtown area. Constructed in 2000, these bridges serve Hazard, Woodhead, Dunlavy, Mandell, and Graustark streets, with two bridges serving the northbound and southbound lanes of Montrose Blvd. The bridges also help to connect Houston's Montrose neighborhood north of the freeway to the Museum District to the south.
In 1998, construction began on the Southwest Freeway to widen the mainlanes and add an HOV (High Occupancy Vehicle) option. A low bridge at Hazard St often caused semitrucks to hit the top of it, prompting an extended lane and sidewalk closure on the old bridge. With that in mind, a decision to raise and update this bridge, along with the others further to the east, was included with this project. The finished project has won multiple awards, such as the 2007 National Partnership for Highway Quality (NPHQ) State Award, the 2003 Texas Construction Best of 2003 Award for Transportation, the 2003 Texas Quality Initiative (NPHQ) Special Recognition Award for Innovation, the 2003 TXDOT Texas Project Award, and more.
US 59 Widening and Bridge Installation (2000)
Finished Product
LOGGING GUIDELINES:
Read this information carefully to ensure proper logging of this cache. Any logs not meeting the specified requirements are subject to deletion without notice.
This virtual cache requires you to take a photo in order to prove your visit to the Houston Arch Bridges. Include ALL of the first set of photo requirements, and at least ONE of the second set.
Fulfill ALL:
- take from the sidewalk on the Hazard St bridge
- include the black railing to prove that the photo is being taken from the bridge, not the freeway
- face East (towards Downtown) & show the other bridges in the background
Fulfill ONE:
- yourself
- a handwritten piece of paper with your username and the date of your visit
- a handheld GPS device or a cell phone with any Geocaching app opened
Do not attempt to pull over on the freeway or post a drive-by log to claim this cache. Any logs containing photos taken from vehicles or from the freeway perspective to fulfill the photo requirement will be deleted. This cache is meant to be accessed from the street above, and, if traveling on the Southwest Freeway below, is easily accessible by taking the Shepherd exit.
Also, while you're here, feel free to check out GCB0TZX, the nearby traditional I placed on this bridge while planning this virtual cache. It is mere feet away from where you'll need to stand to take your photo.
Virtual Rewards 4.0 - 2024-2025
This Virtual Cache is part of a limited release of Virtuals created between January 17, 2024 and January 17, 2025. Only 4,000 cache owners were given the opportunity to hide a Virtual Cache. Learn more about Virtual Rewards 4.0 on the Geocaching Blog.