Alsea Bay Bridge

{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=September 2011}}

{{Infobox Bridge

|bridge_name = Alsea Bay Bridge

|image = Alseabaybridge-south.jpg

|caption = The 1991 Alsea Bay Bridge

|official_name =

|carries = {{jct|state=OR|US|101}}

|crosses = Alsea Bay

|locale = near Waldport, Oregon

|maint =

|id =

|design = concrete arch bridge (both)

|mainspan = {{convert|450|ft|m}}

|length = {{convert|3011|ft|m}} (1st)
{{convert|2910|ft|m}} (2nd)

|width =

|height =

|load =

|clearance =

|below = {{convert|70|ft|m}} (2nd)

|traffic =

|begin = 1988

|complete =

|open = 1936 (1st)
1991 (2nd)

|closed = 1989 (1st)

|toll =

|map_cue =

|map_image =

|map_text =

|map_width =

|coordinates = {{coord|44.4319|-124.0705|region:US-OR_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

}}

The Alsea Bay Bridge is a concrete arch bridge that spans the Alsea Bay on U.S. Route 101 (US 101) near Waldport, Oregon.

History

There have been two bridges on this site.

The first bridge was designed by Conde McCullough and opened in 1936. It was a {{convert|3011|ft|m|-long|adj=mid}} reinforced-concrete combination deck and through arch bridge.

File:Alsea Bay Bridge at Low Tide.jpg

The hostile environment caused significant corrosion to the steel reinforcements. In 1972 the Oregon Department of Transportation began projects aimed at extending the life of the bridge. By the mid-1980s it was decided to replace the bridge rather than continue costly rehabilitation efforts.{{cite book

| last = Jackson

| first = Donald C.

| title = Great American Bridges and Dams

| publisher=Wiley

| year = 1988

| url =

| id =

| isbn =

| page = 327 }} The first bridge was demolished in 1991.

Construction of the second bridge, designed by HNTB, began in 1988, and it was opened in the fall of 1991 at a cost of $42.4 million. The bridge is {{convert|2910|ft|m|abbr=on}} in total length, with a {{convert|450|ft|m|abbr=on}} main span that provides {{convert|70|ft|m|abbr=on}} of vertical clearance. The bridge has a latex concrete deck and the piers are significantly thicker than normal in an attempt to thwart corrosion. Its life expectancy is 75 to 100 years.

File:Alsea Bay Bridge at Waldport, Oregon (3387225849).jpg

See also

References

{{Reflist}}