Astoria–Megler Bridge
| Astoria–Megler Bridge | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Coordinates | 46°13′02″N 123°51′46″W / 46.21725°N 123.86291°WCoordinates: 46°13′02″N 123°51′46″W / 46.21725°N 123.86291°W |
| Carries | 2 lanes of  US 101 and bicycles |
| Crosses | Columbia River |
| Locale | Astoria, Oregon / Pacific County, Washington, USA |
| Maintained by | Oregon DOT |
| ID number | s0000548 |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | cantilever through-truss |
| Material | steel |
| Total length | 21,474 feet (6,545 m) |
| Width | 28 feet (8.5 m) |
| Longest span | 1,233 feet (376 m) |
| No. of spans | 8 (main) 33 (approach) |
| Piers in water | 171 |
| Clearance below | 196 feet (60 m) at high tide |
| History | |
| Designer | Oregon and Washington transportation departments |
| Construction start | November 5, 1962 |
| Construction end | August 27, 1966 |
| Construction cost | $24 million |
| Inaugurated | August 27, 1966 |
| Opened | July 29, 1966 |
| Replaces | Astoria–Megler Ferry |
| Statistics | |
| Daily traffic | 7100 |
| Toll | none (since December 1993) |
The Astoria–Megler Bridge is a steel cantilever through truss bridge that spans the Columbia River between Astoria, Oregon and Point Ellice near Megler, Washington, in the United States. Located 14 miles (23 km) from the mouth of the river, the bridge is 4.1 miles (6.6 km) long and was the last completed segment of U.S. Route 101 between Olympia, Washington, and Los Angeles, California. It is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.
Ferry service between Astoria and the Washington side of the Columbia River began in 1926. The Oregon Department of Transportation purchased the ferry service in 1946. This ferry service did not operate during inclement weather and the half-hour travel time caused delays. In order to allow faster and more reliable crossings near the mouth of the river, a bridge was planned. The bridge was built jointly by the Oregon Department of Transportation and Washington State Department of Transportation.
Construction on the structure began on November 5, 1962. The concrete piers were cast at Tongue Point, 4 miles (6.4 km) upriver. The steel structure was built in segments at Vancouver, Washington, 90 miles (140 km) upriver, then barged downstream where hydraulic jacks lifted them into place. On August 27, 1966, with more than 30,000 people in attendance, Governors Mark Hatfield of Oregon and Dan Evans of Washington opened the bridge by cutting a ceremonial ribbon. The cost of the project was $24 million, equivalent to $177 million today, and was paid for by tolls that were removed on December 24, 1993, more than two years early.
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