Southern Pacific Railroad first crossed the Pecos River in 1891 with the High Bridge, which at that time was the world’s longest railroad bridge at 2,180 feet and highest at 321 feet above the water. In June 1923, the Texas Highway Department constructed a bridge 50 feet above the water to replace the old canyon-bottom crossing. That bridge was washed away in 1954 and was replaced by two low-water interim bridges, the second of which washed out on the day the present bridge was dedicated. The present bridge is 1310 feet long and, at 273 feet above the river’s normal water line, is the highest in Texas.