Sam Hill Memorial Bridge

Biggs Rapids Bridge
Coordinates 45°40′34″N 120°50′10″W / 45.67600°N 120.83607°W / 45.67600; -120.83607Coordinates: 45°40′34″N 120°50′10″W / 45.67600°N 120.83607°W / 45.67600; -120.83607
Carries US 97
Crosses Columbia River
Locale Biggs Junction, Oregon
Maryhill, Washington
Official name Sam Hill Memorial Bridge
Characteristics
Design steel through-truss
Total length 2,567 ft (783m)
Width 26 ft
Clearance below 75 ft
History
Opened November 1, 1962
Statistics
Daily traffic 5,100
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The Sam Hill Memorial Bridge, also known as the Biggs Rapids Bridge, is a steel truss bridge that carries U.S. Route 97 across the Columbia River between Biggs Junction, Oregon in Sherman County and Maryhill, Washington in Klickitat County. It was named in honor of the early bridge proponent and builder of the nearby Maryhill Museum, Sam Hill.

The bridge was opened on November 1, 1962 after two years of construction.[1] It was initially a toll bridge, but the tolls were removed in 1975.

The bridge was closed during part of 2007-2008 in order to complete repairs to the deck. Originally the Washington State Department of Transportation planned to replace the entire deck in 2010, but accelerated the project due to rapidly deteriorating roadway.[2] By March 2009 the project was finished at a total cost of project $16 million, split evenly between Oregon and Washington. It included replacing the deck with concrete, installing new railing, improving the drainage systems, and replacing the existing lighting.[3] The new deck is expected to last 25 years.[4]

References

  1. ↑ Holstine, Craig E. (2005). Spanning Washington: Historic Highway Bridges of the Evergreen State. Washington State University Press. pp. 107–108. ISBN 0-87422-281-8.
  2. ↑ Preusch, Matthew (January 1, 2007). "Biggs project causes big detour". The Oregonian. p. B1. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  3. ↑ "US 97 - Biggs Rapids - Sam Hill Bridge Deck Replacement". WSDOT. Retrieved 2008-01-01.
  4. ↑ Lester, David (December 9, 2007). "New year will start with detour at US 97 bridge at Biggs". Yakima Herald-Republic. Retrieved 2008-01-01.


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