Umpqua River Bridge

Umpqua River Bridge
Coordinates43°42′36″N 124°06′03″W / 43.7099°N 124.1007°W / 43.7099; -124.1007
Carries US 101
CrossesUmpqua River
LocaleReedsport, Oregon
Characteristics
DesignSwing bridge
MaterialSteel
History
DesignerConde B. McCullough
Construction start1934
Opened1936
Umpqua River Bridge No. 01822
The bridge in 1939
LocationReedsport, Oregon
Built1934–1936
MPSMcCullough, C. B., Major Oregon Coast Highway Bridges, 1927–1936
NRHP reference No.05000815[1]
Added to NRHPAugust 5, 2005[1]
Location
Map

The Umpqua River Bridge is a swing-span bridge that spans the Umpqua River in Reedsport, Oregon. It consists of a central swing span flanked by two reinforced concrete arches on each end. The swing span was necessary to accommodate tall sailing vessels which were common on the Umpqua River. The final cost of the bridge was $510,500.

Located at milepoint 211.11 on U.S. Route 101, this bridge is the only remaining swing-span bridge on the Oregon state highway system.[2] This bridge was one of the many bridge projects of Conde McCullough, Oregon's Master Bridge Designer and Builder.[2] It opened to traffic on July 3, 1936.[3]

The north end of the bridge is within Bolon Island Tideways State Scenic Corridor; the south is within Reedsport city limits. The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on August 5, 2005.[1]

No dedication ceremony occurred at the time due to the unavailability of President Franklin Roosevelt. The ceremony was postponed indefinitely. At 3pm on September 8, 2011, the bridge was opened and closed, followed by a ribbon cutting, and cars from the 1910s, 1920s, and 1930s crossed the bridge. It was finally officially dedicated to celebrate its 75th anniversary.

  1. ^ a b c "Oregon National Register List" (PDF). Oregon Parks and Recreation Department. June 6, 2011. p. 10. Retrieved June 7, 2013.
  2. ^ a b "Spanning Oregon's Coast: Oregon has more than 200 historic bridges" (PDF). Oregon Department of Transportation. Retrieved May 24, 2013.
  3. ^ "Span at Newport Open For Traffic [Yaquina Bay Bridge]". The Sunday Oregonian. Portland. September 6, 1936. pp. 1–2.