Historic Hood River
Alternate Routes
11-22-2016
Notes
This blueline dated 1918 shows alternate routes considered for the Columbia River Highway between Hood River and Mosier. We all know the beautiful route the road followed when completed in 1922, but this drawing shows several alternates were considered. It shows:
- the 5.8 mile “River Route” with a summit of 160 feet
- the 6.3 mile “Middle Route” with a summit of 492 feet
- the 10.7 mile “Elliott’s Route” (presumably after highway engineer John Elliott) with an 1107 foot summit
- the 11.7 mile “Reconnaissance Route” with a 1573 foot summit
The “Middle Route” looks most similar to today’s route, though I can’t tell if it included the twin tunnels.
L.E.
On the River Route, it looks like the Highway either went under or over the railroad tracks on that point that juts out into the Columbia River.
The dotted road the farthest south, would that be the old trail/road between Mosier and HR?
Arthur
The dotted line is labelled "Present Road/ Hood River to Mosier", probabkly what we call "Old Dalles Road". The dotted line to the left is labelled "East Side Road" which is the name still in use.
Kenn
Extremely difficult terrain from Mosier all the way to the Sandy River, the engineers were amazing.
Jeffrey W Bryant
The contract for the middle route was awarded on January 7, 1919:
https://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn97071110/1919-01-09/ed-1/seq-7/