ODOT BRIDGE LOG 2022: LOWER COLUMBIA RIVER HWY. NO. 2W (US30)

M.P.: 78.88

Bridge No.: 01275

Name: Big Noise Creek, Hwy 2W

Year Built: 1927

A. F. Litt, November 20, 2022

So, the current US 30 bridge here was built in 1927, which makes me wonder if the 1930 map above was reflecting an old alignment that was changed in 1927.

As usual, more research is needed, but this is an important new piece of data.

Big Noise Creek Fragment

July 18, 2020

The orange grade on the most current map seems to follow the 1930 map and shows up clearly on the lidar. I think this is the last major fragment left to be officially "discovered" between Astoria and Pendleton and the last chance and, perhaps, to discover bridge remains...

When I have a chance to spend more time in the OHC Biennial Reports, I'll look for more information on the original highway crossing at Big Noise Creek.

Unfortunately, when I was out there in April, it was with a buddy who did not share my passion for the old highway, and he was done looking for old fragments for the day!

"Southern" Big Noise Creek Road

March 2020

Between Google Maps and DOGAMI Lidar, I've narrowed all these weird traces down to the two possible grades on the map above. However, it might be just as likely that the original highway is under the "improved" US 30 here.

In 2015, we did actually get out on the ground out here, driving some of these roads. If I remember right, I didn't have my maps available and was mostly just looking for blatantly clear fragments, like at Valley Creek or the Clifton Road Fragment, and wasn't even that clear on how these roads all fit together. The orange road on the map below sort of felt like it could be CRH, sort of felt like it wasn't...

The road above was not paved, as far as I could tell, we didn't get out of the van, and it ended at a well-used camp above Big Noise Creek where there was no clear indication of the road continuing on the other side of the creek. So, at the time, I pretty much ruled it out. However, I want to get out there again and really pay attention to both of these possible alignments before I rule anything out completely.

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