RJ Watson’s Cutting-Edge Bearings Power the Pretty Rocks Bridge in Denali National Park
Denali National Park, Alaska – Deep in the heart of Denali National Park, a game-changing bridge is taking shape, and RJ Watson, Inc. is playing a key role in making it happen. The Pretty Rocks Bridge is a 475-foot-long steel truss that will restore access to the famous Denali Park Road, which has been blocked since 2021 due to a rapidly shifting rock glacier landslide at Mile 45. With extreme environmental challenges at play, this $150 million project needed serious engineering muscle—and that’s where RJ Watson’s seismic isolation bearings come in.
A Bridge Built to Last in One of the Toughest Environments on Earth
Building a bridge in Alaska is no small feat. Between freezing temperatures, shifting permafrost, seismic activity, and powerful winds, this structure needs to withstand just about everything Mother Nature can throw at it.
To ensure the bridge remains stable for decades to come, RJ Watson fabricated four EQS Seismic Isolation Bearings—specialized engineering marvels that help absorb movement from earthquakes, thermal expansion, and high winds. These bearings act like the bridge’s shock absorbers, reducing stress and allowing it to flex rather than break under extreme conditions.
Here’s what they can handle:
- Supports 810 kips of vertical load
- Absorbs seismic shifts of up to 4.1 inches
- Withstands wind and braking forces with a displacement of 6.4 inches
- Handles extreme Alaskan temperature swings
- Designed to maintain bridge stability while allowing controlled movement
Taking on Alaska’s Unpredictable Landscape
Alaska’s landscape is constantly shifting, and this area of Denali National Park is no exception. The Pretty Rocks landslide has been accelerating due to climate change, moving at an alarming rate and making traditional road repairs impossible. The solution? Build a bridge over it.
But keeping this bridge stable in a warming climate is a whole other challenge. Engineers are installing thermosiphons—a technology borrowed from the Trans-Alaska Pipeline—to keep the permafrost frozen and prevent further ground shifting. Thermosiphons are passive cooling tubes that pull heat from the ground and release it into the air, keeping the permafrost frozen. This helps stabilize structures like the Pretty Rocks Bridge in Alaska’s shifting climate. RJ Watson’s bearings add another layer of protection, ensuring the bridge can flex and adapt as needed, no matter what nature throws at it.
A Critical Link to Denali’s Future
Once completed in Summer 2026, the Pretty Rocks Bridge will reopen access to some of the most breathtaking parts of Denali National Park. Tour buses, park rangers, and visitors will once again be able to travel the entire length of Denali Park Road, restoring a vital link for tourism and conservation efforts.
For RJ Watson, Inc., this project is more than just another job—it’s an opportunity to showcase cutting-edge engineering in one of the most extreme environments on Earth. Their seismic isolation bearings will help ensure the bridge stays strong, safe, and standing for generations to come.
As construction continues, RJ Watson’s contribution is set to become a lasting piece of Denali’s history—bridging the gap between nature and innovation.
