I would assume that, according to the 1914 to 1916 Biennial Report, that this would be Section No. 4, Unit No. 1...

Oregon State Archives - A 1940 Journey Across Oregon

From the winding curves of RAINIER HILL (671 alt.) there is a fine view of Longview, Washington, and the narrow roadway of the bridge spanning the river, hundreds of feet below. The summit is reached at 50.6 m. [West of Portland].

"...took Old Rainier Road/old hwy 30 out of Alstan all the way through Rainier. (Quite impressed with this segment)."

"I used to have to walk up these curves a lot of nights on my home to Alstons Corner after ball practice. ...in the dark of winter, hitch hiked what I could ...as back then there was sometimes 10 mintutes between cars... I would have to climb over the gaurdrail on some curves to get off the road so not to get hit."

The views from the older road are possibly a little better than the new highway – 7% grade on the new, straight road – but because so much more attention goes to the curves, you do not have much time to enjoy. Besides, the many curves, trees have grown up obscuring the vistas. as well.

"The Guard Rails on parts of the curves were wood with cable attached to them and they rotted away, and also was kicked down easily due to rot by some boys from school back in 1962 while they walked up the curves. I went to school in Rainier, that's how I know, and NO! I was not one of them boys!"

Larry Humphrey, July 27, 2020

This is what I know about how the highway and how it came through Rainier and up into the Beaver Valley area.

Highway 30 came through Rainier on B street all the way to what was called the Longview Y, where one could take the road to the right down and across the big bridge into Longview. At this Y, the highway headed up the windy curves to the top where the elevation was what you stated at around 6XX feet more or less, then on down to Beaver Valley where it crossed it's first bridge over Beaver Creek near Hudson Park.

Now, what I have been told is that at first the highway was plotted to go up off B street on the Fern Hill Road and at the Y in the Road, some 2 miles up, you would veer off to the right on Townsend road and there is where the 8% grade I believe was one of the problems... Plus crossing Nice Creek a zig zaggin to get to The Townsend road. I was also told or I read that this route was used until they could get all the Rainier Curves made and stay within the 5% grade rule. Part of this is word of mouth from old Pioneers when they had meetings back then.

Links

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