A terrifying Texas bridge, known as one of the most heart-stopping drives in the US, has been restored and reopened.
The Rainbow Bridge connects Jefferson County and Orange County over the Neches River, carrying drivers between Port Arthur and Bridge City.
Famous for its anxiety-inducing steep five percent incline, the ascent gives the same feeling as the anticipation of riding up a rickety roller coaster.
The bridge was first built in 1938 and is among the tallest on the Gulf Coast. It rises to a height of a 20-story building - nearly 200 ft.
Its main span, the central arch over the river, is about 680 ft, with the bridge totaling approximately 1,450 ft in length.
The sky-high bridge had been shut down since March 2025, undergoing a refurbishing makeover.
It reopened on Saturday, following the completion of major structural renovations.
Texans drive toward the Rainbow Bridge in Bridge City after it reopened. The bridge was undergoing renovations since March 2025
The nearly 200 ft tall bridge is famous for its anxiety-inducing steep incline
The repairs included rebuilding its road surface, fixing safety railings, and replacing thousands of metal fasteners and key steel connectors to restore its strength.
The renovations were initially expected to take 18 months, but the project was wrapped up roughly six months early.
'Great News! Overnight crews wrapped up work between MLK Pkwy and 11th St ahead of schedule!' the state's Department of Transportation wrote on X.
'All three lanes are open. Traffic is flowing smoothly,' they added.
During the bridge’s reconstruction, congested traffic was detoured to its neighboring Veterans Memorial Bridge.
Built in 1988, the Veterans Memorial Bridge runs parallel to its neighbor, with the roadway reaching a height of about 120 ft.
The Veterans Memorial Bridge spans a total length of about 9,440 feet, with a main span of roughly 640 feet, making it somewhat shorter than its neighboring bridge.
The Rainbow Bridge is parallel to its neighbor, Veterans Memorial Bridge
Many Texans have taken to social media to share their white-knuckled, heart-in-throat experiences crossing the Rainbow Bridge.
'This gave me so much anxiety,' one user commented on a video of the harrowing bridge.
'My daughter saw the bridge and immediately [stopped] on the side of the road and I had to drive. She had a panic attack crossing that bridge,' another said.
Another user shared: 'I’ve been on this bridge three times…have had nightmares many times! Thinking my car stops on the way up and sliding down… wake up and my heart is racing!'
