A reinforced soil arch having an archway form, a combination of alternating and interacting layers of compacted mineral soil and geosynthetic reinforcement material placed over and adjacent to the archway form, and a plurality of shear resisting devices secured to the exterior surface of the archway form. The shear resisting devices cause the archway form and the combination of alternating layers of compacted mineral soil and geosynthetic reinforcement material to act as an integral unit when static or dynamic loads are placed on the reinforced soil arch. Methods for constructing a reinforced soil arch are provided.