Ralph W. Finke
of Olympia, Washington
View Exhibit mapRalph W. Finke was the State Bridge Engineer for the Washington State Department of Highways from the late 1930's until taking the post of Seattle City Engineer in 1948.
Finke oversaw the design of many of the notable spans over the Columbia River including the Kettle Falls Bridge and the Julia Butler Hansen Bridge. Finke was also in charge of the Jim Creek Bridge in Cowlitz County, one of a very few war time bridges built during World War II.
Later as Seattle City Engineer Finke was a key figure in the building of the Alaskan Way Viaduct along Elliott Bay in Seattle.
Bridge related patents filed by Ralph Finke:
Lift Bridge: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2198810.pdf
Bridge Cable Anchorage: http://www.freepatentsonline.com/2198809.pdf
Engineering History:
- Bridge Engineer, Washington State Department of Highways
- Seattle City Engineer (1948-1952)
Alaskan Way Viaduct (King County, Washington)
City Engineer - Seattle, 1953Double-deck stringer bridge running parallel to Alaskan Way along Seattle waterfrontDemolished 2019
Fort Spokane Bridge (Lincoln County, Washington)
Bridge Engineer, 1941Through truss bridge over Spokane River on WA 25 at MilesOpen to traffic
George Sellar Bridge (Chelan County, Washington)
Bridge Engineer - Design Phase, 1950Steel arch and truss bridge over Columbia River on WA 285 in WenatcheeOpen to traffic
Grande Ronde River Bridge (Asotin County, Washington)
State Bridge Engineer, 1941Steel stringer bridge over Grande Ronde River on WA 129Open to traffic
Jim Creek Bridge (Cowlitz County, Washington)
Bridge Engineer, 1945Concrete deck arch bridge over Jim Creek on WA 503Open to traffic
Julia Butler Hansen Bridge (Wahkiakum County, Washington)
Bridge Engineer, 1939Through truss bridge over Columbia River on WA 409Open to traffic
Kettle Falls Bridge (Stevens County, Washington)
State Bridge Engineer, 1941Through truss bridge over Columbia River on US 395Open to traffic