(Historic American Engineering Record – WA-89)
It was on this bridge in 2007 while riding in the STP bicycle ride that I first experienced the unpleasant symptoms that led me to seek out a cardiologist. That in turn revealed that I had a faulty aortic valve which would require replacement. Four years later the operation took place and was successful. I returned to bicycling a few months later. And now I look forward to the Lewis and Clark Bridge on my next STP, which, with luck, will be in 2014.
It is a difficult bridge to ascend on a bike but a fantastic ride on the way down as you descend into Oregon. Fastest I've ever gone on a bike.
Enjoyed looking at the article. Each historic bridge has a unique story, and I simply feel it should be told as accurately as possible which I why I felt the need to point out the length issue. The story of this bridge is certainly very unusual... the construction of a monumental sized bridge not out of need, but out of politics. It also is one of the few large-span bridges that famous engineer Joseph Strauss actually designed (given that he didn't really have as much to do with the Golden Gate as he and his statue would have you believe). Strauss proposed a design for the Blue Water Bridge in Michigan that was not accepted, but clearly was based off his design for this bridge.
The story of Pont de Quebec is also quite a story, where the effort to construct the world's longest cantilever span took two tries and took the lives of 88 people.
Nitpick. Nitpick.
I am sure they meant USA or perhaps if there is a Midwest span, longest in the Pacific Northwest.
Do you realize the efforts it took to even get this bridge up? Portland did not want a bridge at Longview and kept imposing new restrictions on design hoping it would not get done. They feared loss of vital shipping with a low span. However since these types of bridges were quite common on the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers it was easy to do.
http://www.crreader.com/2012/02/24/Columbia-River-History-Bu...
I don't mean to diminish the extremely high level of historic significance of this magnificent, beautiful historic bridge, however the claim by HAER that its 1200 foot span was the longest in North America when completed is false. Pont de Quebec opened in 1917 has been and likely forever will be the longest cantilever truss span in North America and indeed the world with its 1800 foot span between piers. http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowse...
Thank You for photo. It was good bridge. Washington of Transportment already check bridge.
Future Prospect; Scheduled for replacement about Summer 2015. Thank You.
Painted 2017, no indication that it will be replaced.