Interstate Bridge Between Oregon and Washington

PhotoID: DREB0CRW02538

Interstate Bridge: Geography Lesson - Click Here!

The I-5 bridge over the Columbia River - a regular source of irritation for motorists because it is raised often for river traffic.

Actually this is two bridges - one was built in 1917, the twin was built in 1958! If you get close, you can see the difference in the paint quality.

This text appears on one of three plaques/markers on the 1917 (east) bridge:

The Columbia River Interstate Bridge. Total length of bridge and approaches 4 1/2 miles. Completed January, 1917. Total cost $1,750,000. The bridge over the Columbia River, 3531 ft. long, consists of one 50 ft. span, three 275 ft. spans, and ten 265 ft. spans; and contains 7,350 tons of steel, 17,650 sq. yds. of reinforced concrete deck, 15,000 sq. yds of pavement, 21600 cu. yds. of piers supported on piles extending to 160 ft. below roadway. The towers extend to 190 ft. above Roadway.