Ivan D. Merchant

Ivan D. Merchant (1906-1997) was an engineer with the Oregon State Highway Department from 1929 until his retirement in 1972. During his time with the department Merchant served in many positions within the bridge department beginning as a construction inspector and finally retiring the state bridge engineer. Merchant was an instrumental design engineer within the staff of Conde B. McCullough during the design and construction of the large bridges along the Oregon coast.

Merchant began his carrier after graduating from Oregon Agricultural College in 1929. One of his first assignments was as a construction inspector on the Rogue River Bridge in Gold Beach. By 1933 Merchant had promoted to a designer position and at the age of 27 he designed the main arch spans for the Yaquina Bay Bridge.

In 1957 Merchant became the State Bridge Engineer for the highway department. Under his direction the bridge department designed and constructed many of Oregon’s largest structures including the Astoria-Megler Bridge over the mouth of the Columbia River and the Marquam Bridge over the Willamette River in Portland. Merchant is best recognized for leading the design and construction of Oregon’s tallest bridge the Thomas Creek Bridge on U.S. 101 along the South Oregon Coast.

Merchant retired from the highway department in 1972 and died in 1997 in Salem, Oregon. Merchant was the last engineer at the Oregon State Highway Department to work along side notable bridge engineer Conde McCullough.

ENGINEERING HISTORY:

- Construction Inspector, Oregon State Highway Department (1929-1932)

- Bridge Design Engineer, Oregon State Highway Department (1932-1957)

- State Bridge Engineer, Oregon State Highway Department (1957-1972)