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Deschutes Bridge

"Waterwheels near Deschutes river mouth. The first irrigation wheels were built in 1902, the second one was built 5 years later."

Cover photo for 1995 WCHS calendar

Junction of Deschutes and Columbia RiverDate: 1910Photographer: D. Burpee

Jnct. of Deschutes and Columbia River, Ore.Date and Photographer Uncertain, Possibly D. Burpee

1919 Bridge

Second Biennial Report of the Oregon State Highway Commission Covering the Period December 1st, 1914 to November 30th, 1916http://digital.lib.pdx.edu/oscdl/files/odot/pdx005t0001.pdf

"The bridge eliminated a toll crossing in use since 1867..."

Clarence E. Mershon. The Columbia River Highway: From the Sea to the Wheat Fields of Eastern Oregon. Portland: Guardian Peaks Enterprises. 2006. 1st Edition. 225.

"Five hundred and nine foot steel plate girder bridge with concrete floor and approaches built in 1919. Over the Deschutes River between Wasco and Sherman Counties. On the Columbia River Highway."

Oregon State Highway Commission - 4th Biennial Report of the Oregon State Highway Commission Covering the Period December 1st, 1918 to November 30th, 1920http://digital.lib.pdx.edu/oscdl/files/odot/pdx005t0003.pdf

Kirk J. Poole, August 1, 2020

... the 1919 bridge was north from the existing RR bridge...not by much, maybe 100 feet.

Photo Currently Unavailable

Columbia River Highway at the Deschutes RiverPhotographer and Date Uncertain

1955 Bridge

A replacement bridge constructed in 1955, before the inundation of the area by The Dalles dam in March 1957, which might suggest that the original CRH route here is underwater. It might also be worth taking a closer look at the grade running under the bridge in the photo below...

ODOT, Deschutes River Bridge

Although traffic volumes are low on OR 206 and over the bridge, it is an important highway for accessing the Deschutes River and an alternative route if Interstate 84 is closed. Keeping highways in good condition and providing a safe, efficient transportation system that supports economic opportunity are critical parts of the mission for the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT).

The Deschutes River Bridge #00332 was built in 1955 and is approximately 650 feet long and 35 feet wide. Currently, the bridge is load limited due to concerns about the girders (superstructure) supporting the roadway. There is concern that if a significant earthquake occurred, the bridge would sustain major damage. The approach, transition and bridge railings are all substandard and needs to be replaced or modified. And there are some bridge deck joints that are in need of repair.

http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION4/pages/or206-deschutesriverbridge/or206-deschutesriverbridge.aspx

Bridge Hunter:

History

Built 1955

Builder

Glenn S. Paxson (State Bridge Engineer)

Design

The Deschutes River Bridge is one of the last cast-in-place girder bridges built in Oregon before the pre-stressed/pre-cast girder age. The concrete girders have the appearance of pre-stressed girders, but were in fact cast in place. The bridge features the standard ornamental railing from the era.

http://bridgehunter.com/or/wasco/deschutes-river/