A century-old suspension bridge in Washington’s Yakima River Canyon has earned international recognition following a major rehabilitation effort.

The Bureau of Land Management’s Umtanum Suspension Bridge project — designed with engineering support from HDR, a global professional services firm specializing in architecture, engineering, environmental and construction services — won the New Life category at the 2025 Footbridge Awards in Chur, Switzerland. The awards are organized and sponsored by Bridge Design & Engineering magazine.

Built around 1925, the 220-foot bridge once carried vehicles, including Model Ts, across the Yakima River and Northern Pacific railroad tracks. Today, it spans Washington’s only Blue-Ribbon trout stream and serves as the sole access point to the west side of th

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