How long astoria bridge

They were collected until December 24, On that day, the bridge is closed to traffic, and pedestrians are allowed to walk or run all the way across and back. Oregon In Your Inbox spinner. Thank you! You will receive your first email soon. Love Oregon? Get more stories delivered right to your email.

Your e-mail: Sign Up. Share on Facebook Pin it on Pinterest. Catherine Armstrong Follow me on:. Writer, editor and researcher with a passion for exploring new places. Catherine loves local bookstores, independent films, and spending time with her family, including Gus the golden retriever, who is a very good boy. You'll receive your first newsletter soon!

Enter your e-mail address for things to do, restaurants to try and much more! The Astoria-Megler Bridge towers over the western end of Astoria. For some, just the thought of crossing the bridge causes a knot to form in their stomach and heart to race. For others, the opportunity to cross the bridge is something to delight in - being out on the river and taking in the unparalleled view.

Either way, the bridge is an icon that resonates with those who have experienced it. Beautiful no matter the weather, the bridge is glorious on a clear, sunny day and has an air of mystery when shrouded by fog.

Even if just in town for a short visit, we urge you to consider taking a drive across the bridge to experience it yourself. Its construction was an impressive feat. The bridge's main span is 1, feet in length, the longest "continuous truss" in the nation. North and South traffic across the mouth of the Columbia River was a problem for many years. In a scheduled ferry service from Astoria, to Megler on the Washington side, was established. The operation of the ferry system was taken over by the State of Oregon in , with operational control being assigned to the State Highway Department.

For many years, the idea of a bridge across the Lower Columbia River simmered in people's thoughts, and in , Senator Dan Theil of Astoria successfully headed a crusade for the bridge, "a bridge," critics said, "to nowhere. Hatfield, turned the first shovel of dirt on the river bank in Astoria marking the official start of the project.

Actual construction work began on November 5, The Astoria approach utilizes pre-stressed concrete beam spans, set on concrete piers, located to avoid overloading the slide-prone Astoria hills.