Columbia River Bridge (Wenatchee, Washington)
Encyclopedia
The Columbia River Bridge at Wenatchee, Washington
, also known as the Old Wenatchee Bridge, was built by the Washington Bridge Company in 1908, primarily as a means to carry irrigation water pipelines across the Columbia River
. It was the first road bridge over the Columbia south of Canada. The bridge is a pin-connected cantilever truss, 1600 feet (487.7 m) long, with one 200 feet (61 m) Pratt truss between two 160 feet (48.8 m) cantilever arms, with 240 feet (73.2 m) side arms and a 60 feet (18.3 m) girder span. The bridge was purchased by the Washington highway department for $182,000 for highway use. As originally built, the bridge carried a 20.5 feet (6.2 m) wide timber roadway, with additional ability to carry a street railway. However, the east approach to the bridge was built at a 6% grade, limiting its potential.
The bridge was replaced in 1950 by the Senator George Sellar Bridge
. The next year the Wenatchee Reclamation District bought the bridge for $1.00, moving the pipes from outside the truss to within. The bridge was opened to foot traffic. In 2007 concerns were raised about the bridge's ability to sustain foot traffic. Repairs were made in 2010. The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
on July 16, 1982.
Wenatchee, Washington
Wenatchee is located in North Central Washington and is the largest city and county seat of Chelan County, Washington, United States. The population within the city limits in 2010 was 31,925...
, also known as the Old Wenatchee Bridge, was built by the Washington Bridge Company in 1908, primarily as a means to carry irrigation water pipelines across the Columbia River
Columbia River
The Columbia River is the largest river in the Pacific Northwest region of North America. The river rises in the Rocky Mountains of British Columbia, Canada, flows northwest and then south into the U.S. state of Washington, then turns west to form most of the border between Washington and the state...
. It was the first road bridge over the Columbia south of Canada. The bridge is a pin-connected cantilever truss, 1600 feet (487.7 m) long, with one 200 feet (61 m) Pratt truss between two 160 feet (48.8 m) cantilever arms, with 240 feet (73.2 m) side arms and a 60 feet (18.3 m) girder span. The bridge was purchased by the Washington highway department for $182,000 for highway use. As originally built, the bridge carried a 20.5 feet (6.2 m) wide timber roadway, with additional ability to carry a street railway. However, the east approach to the bridge was built at a 6% grade, limiting its potential.
The bridge was replaced in 1950 by the Senator George Sellar Bridge
Senator George Sellar Bridge
The Senator George Sellar Bridge, also known as the Columbia River Bridge at Wenatchee, Washington was built in 1950 to carry U.S. Route 2 across the Columbia River. The steel suspended tied-arch bridge has a main span of with anchor arms...
. The next year the Wenatchee Reclamation District bought the bridge for $1.00, moving the pipes from outside the truss to within. The bridge was opened to foot traffic. In 2007 concerns were raised about the bridge's ability to sustain foot traffic. Repairs were made in 2010. The bridge was placed on the National Register of Historic Places
National Register of Historic Places
The National Register of Historic Places is the United States government's official list of districts, sites, buildings, structures, and objects deemed worthy of preservation...
on July 16, 1982.