The Longest Continuous Truss Bridge In North America, Oregon's Astoria–Megler Bridge Was And Is A True Feat Of Engineering
By Sarah McCosham|Published June 01, 2022
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Sarah McCosham
Author
I write like it's my job - because it is! I have a Master's in English and love words: crossword puzzles, Scrabble games, Wordle, and, of course, good, old-fashioned books.
I'm a writer and editor at OnlyInYourState, and a contributing writer at Cincinnati Magazine. I love the Great Outdoors and am endlessly awestruck by this beautiful country of ours. Coffee keeps me going, yoga keeps me sane, my kids keep me grounded, and my writing keeps me inspired.
The Astoria-Megler Bridge is a PNW icon — and a superlative superstar. The Astoria-Megler bridge is not only one of the most impressive bridges in Oregon, but it’s the longest continuous truss bridge in all of North America. The bridge is a true attention-grabber, catching the eye of everyone from history buffs and art enthusiasts to film directors and nature lovers. There’s no place in the country quite like the commanding Astoria-Megler Bridge, and its history really is quite marvelous.
Astoria isn't just Oregon's oldest town; it's also the oldest American settlement on the West Coast. In addition to its impressive historical clout, the town's Astoria-Megler Bridge is a PNW icon.
The town is anchored by this bridge, which not only played an important part in its development and history, but today is a big part of its culture and identity.
After 30 years of planning, development, and construction, the Astoria-Megler Bridge opened for traffic on July 29, 1966, and it was hailed as a huge accomplishment.
The project was quite an undertaking. The steel structure of the bridge was built in Vancouver, Washington. Massive sections of it were sent by barge down the Columbia River and lifted into place using huge, hydraulic jacks.
Not only was it the longest continuous truss bridge in North America, but it also completed the connection from Los Angeles all the way up the coast to Olympia, Washington on U.S. Highway 101.
Long before the bridge existed, a ferry shuttled cars back and forth between Astoria and Megler. It was slow, and only operated when the weather was good. By the 1930s, there was talk of building a bridge, but it was two decades after that before the project was seriously considered, as it was quite a daunting proposition.
The bridge has 171 piers in the water, and is just over four miles long. It can withstand winds of 150 mph, and currents of up to 9 mph. Cars and bicycles are allowed on the bridge, but it's not wide enough for pedestrians. It's just 28 feet wide, with two lanes.
The Astoria-Megler Bridge was built to last and stand the test of time -- and it has. Today, the bridge is a PNW icon; it was, is, and will always be one of the most magnificent man-made wonders in Oregon.
What a beautiful triumph of human imagination! Of course, the Astoria–Megler Bridge isn’t the only star in Astoria… this Oregon town is a major pop culture icon!
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