Hood River Bridges & Loops
Robert W. Hadlow, Columbia River Highway Historic District, National Historic Landmark Nomination
The state highway department abandoned this section in the early 1950s when the water-level route opened. The Hood River Loops carry the road up and out of the river valley to skirt along the cliffs of the Columbia River Gorge on grades of 5 percent or less and on curves with turning radii of 100 feet or more. The portion to the Hood River County—Wasco County line became a county road, serving residences and several gravel pits. With closure of this portion of the old road in the mid-1950s, the right-of-way in Wasco County to HMP 73.1, including the Mosier Twin Tunnels (HMP 72) reverted to surrounding private landowners.
Hadlow, Landmark Nomination, 9
East of the city’s business district, the CRH crosses the Hood River Bridge. From there, the road progresses toward the city of Mosier, first ascending the Hood River Loops. This highway segment reverted to county ownership in 1954.
From HMP 67 to 68.5, it provides access to homes and businesses. Just east of there, it served a county gravel pit.
Hadlow, Landmark Nomination, 9, 15
A couple interesting things in the map above...
It looks like the 1931 route actually turned left (north) from the Hood River Bridge, and that the old pavement south heading towards the new bridge was actually the start of the Mt. Hood Loop Highway.
However, this was not the case... The next map east looks more like the expected configuration, so maybe they were just being a little incomplete around the edges of the map. The left turn off the bridge clearly runs down to the Columbia River Bridge, and the Mt. Hood Loop / CRH intersection appears similar to the contemporary alignment.
I'll need to spend some more time on all of this, but very interesting...
