The Rio Grande Railroad Viaduct helped bring travelers to the Royal Gorge by advancing U.S. 50's transformation into a modern paved highway and by eliminating one of Colorado's most dangerous railroad crossings. The scenic Royal Gorge Bridge opened in 1930 about 25 miles away and quickly became a national tourist sensation, prompting major improvements to U.S. 50; by 1932, the highway was paved most of the way from Pueblo to Salida, helping Colorado capitalize on the gorge's popularity and making tourism a permanent part of the state's economy. Opened to automobiles on July 14, 1931, the viaduct rose 24 feet above the Denver & Rio Grande Western tracks and carried motorists over a hazardous crossing long troubled by dust in dry weather and deep mud in snow or rain. Designed by engineers from the Colorado Department of Highways, the concrete T-beam structure used cantilevered girders to extend its length and measured 262 feet overall with seven deck spans.