There are a couple of places where even old bridges can be seen in juxtaposition to new bridges. One such place is on the north border of Multnomah County immediately south of the intersection with Cornelius Pass Road (OR highway 127 newly transferred to the State from both Multnomah and Washington Counties).

Note both old and new highway bridges cross McCarthy Creek fifty yards from each other. But one does not carry traffic anymore with both ends blocked off. The LCRH highway bridge dates to 1920, the time the State bridge designer was Oregon’s most famous, Conde McCullough. McCullough designed masterpieces on the Coast but also many more simpler bridges like this stringer bridge across McCarthy Creek.

The present highway bridge to the east dates to 1968. By 1938, the old bridge was already abandoned being too small for the increased traffic it needed to bear.

Bridge Hunter: McCarthy Creek Bridge

Overview

Abandoned concrete stringer bridge over McCarthy Creek on Abandoned U.S. 30 Alignment

Location

Multnomah County, Oregon

Status

Abandoned

History

Built 1920

Design

The McCarthy Creek Bridge is an abandoned reinforced concrete beam bridge. The bridge was part of the original Lower Columbia River Highway and was bypassed when traffic requirements warranted a wider and straighter highway alignment.

The McCarthy Creek Bridge is one of a few abandoned bridges in Oregon. Most bridges are demolished soon after abandonment. The McCarthy Creek Bridge is similar in design to the Tide Creek Bridge in Columbia County, which was also part of the Lower Columbia River Highway before being bypassed.

Links

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