Historic Hood River
Rebuild
10-7-2014
Notes
I can just imagine the reaction of the bridge owners when they learned that the planned Bonneville Dam would render their bridge useless. Just 12 years after it opened they had to basically rebuild it, reconstructing the approaches and adding a lift span. Construction happened between 1936 and 1940. This image shows the north half of the bridge being replaced, as it connected to land that was to be inundated.
Category: default
Tags: 1930s, bridge, Columbia River, construction, Hood River White Salmon Interstate Bridge, Port of Hood River
Tags: 1930s, bridge, Columbia River, construction, Hood River White Salmon Interstate Bridge, Port of Hood River
Buzz
Unless I’m wrong, I would assume the federal taxpayers paid all the costs of the basically rebuilt new bridge. In which case the bridge owners probably ended up with a better bridge at no cost to themselves.
Longshot
Looks like the original bridge turned west on the end, maybe to line up with Dock Grade.
James Holloway
If federal tax dollars paid most/all of the rebuild costs, then it’s about time for the Port of HR to relinquish their control of the bridge. Their cash cow! Plus that bridge is dangerously too narrow! Needs a rebuild again. If the foundation is still strong enough, it could easily be widened, cutting and welding, needs at least two feet per side, total four feet wider! Costs for that, well high, but how many head on crashes have happened on that bridge? I don’t know of any, but still, when one is driving across, and a big truck is coming head-on, it is very scary, or do most of you who drive this bridge enjoy the risks? I really don’t like it, and we should condemn this bridge until it is made safer!
AndyB
If it were easy they would have done it already. I have attended some meetings on this and every way you look at it it is not an easy job to make this bridge bigger. It needs a fully new bridge which last I heard was approaching $200million. One of the compounding problems is the lift span, that really complicates any widening effort.
Great photo BTW.
l.e.
Reading through a couple of 1935-38 Washington newspapers…..The toll became a big argumentative issue. Citizens and businesses were protesting river traffic being shut down. I gather this had to do with building the dam.
the North Bank Highway was nearing completion in the tunnels area.
Judy
Plus Washington would have to agree, and they have already stated in a hearing that they would not agree. $$$
Arthur
I’ve verified from other photos that in 1939 the toll for automobiles was $0.75. When the Port purchased it from the private owners in the 1950s they lowered the toll to $0.50. That $0.75 in 1939 is equivalent to almost $13 today!
I wonder what a ferry trip cost in 1922?
James Holloway
Well the Port is doing a good job in keeping the crossing cost down, I don’t drive that bridge much, and I really hate it when a big rig comes heading the other way, as I clutch the steering wheel. It’s too bad they removed the little ‘tire’ bumpers on the deck next to the guard rail. They are still on the lift span. Notice those. I once bumped lightly into one, and there design is to deflect your wheel (and fender) away from the guard rail. Notice all the guard rail crumples along the way, now without those metal tire deflectors. The body shops appreciate that, but who designed those ‘out’. Bad idea!
Kenn
We cam keep an 8′ wide truck in a 9′ lane, seems a 6′ wide vehicle should have no problem.
Kenn
The rebuild and raising elimated a dangerous grade crossing with the SP&S RR on the north side.