Historic Hood River
“Hood River Loops and Interstate Span”
Notes
This Eddy view highlights two brand new features of the Hood River landscape: the east side loops of the newly completed Columbia River Highway, and the interstate bridge. The bridge is in its original form, before the lift span was added and the approaches reconstructed in the late 1930s.
This view is always a little confusing, since in order to get the bridge and Mt. Hood in the view the photographer has cropped most of the city of Hood River. You can see Bluff Road and a little of the adjacent residential neighborhood, but no view of downtown. You can see where the Hood River courses between Bluff Road and the Button farm, and if you follow it upstream you’ll see where the east side grade climbs up past an orchard which appears to be in bloom.
The land between the railroad and the river is unrecognizable. The river is higher because of the Bonneville Dam, significant fill has been added, and every bit of land is covered with freeways or structures.
Jeffrey Bryant
It took quite a while before the road connecting the Interstate bridge to the Columbia River Highway and Mt. Hood Loop Highway was decided upon and built.
AndyB
Did they have to raise the already built bridge and stick it on those higher plinths when Bonneville Dam went in? How did they do that? I dont think I have seen pictures of that process.
L. E.
Beautiful photo.
ArthurB
In 1937 the bridge approaches were reconstructed and the lift span was installed to provide clearance for the rising Bonneville pool. Click on the “Hood River White Salmon Interstate Bridge” tag to see photos of that very involved process. I believe it took 3+ years, much longer than the original construction.