Taleyfac Spanish Bridge

The Taleyfac bridge stands beside the coast road in southwestern Guam, a small arched crossing of cut stone and coral built by the Spanish to carry the camino real, the royal road that linked Hagåtña with the southern villages. It was constructed with forced Chamorro labour, as the road system was. The bridge is bypassed now and stands in vegetation a few metres off the modern road. Several similar bridges survive along the southern coast, and together they mark the line of the old road.

Background

Locally the bridge is called Taleyfac Tolai Acho. It crosses the Taleyfac River on two stone arches, measuring 36 feet in length and 15 feet in width, and stands just off Guam Highway 2 in Agat. Its deck was first laid with timber, which was replaced long ago. One of the two arches has been damaged after some of its stones were taken away or lost to erosion. Construction took place between 1866 and 1898. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on September 10, 1974.

Source: Wikipedia, "Taleyfac Spanish Bridge"

Highlights

• The stone arch - the Spanish crossing of cut stone and coral.
• The camino real - the royal road the bridge was built to carry.
• The bypassed setting - the structure left beside the modern road.
• The construction history - a road system built with forced local labour.

When to go

December to June is the drier season. Vegetation grows over the bridge in the wet months. Mornings are cooler.

Things to know

The bridge is small and takes minutes to see. Vegetation obscures it for much of the year. Parking is roadside and there is no interpretation beyond a sign.

Nearby

Sella Bay is south, and Agat is north.

Key facts