Umatilla Bridge

{{Infobox Bridge

|bridge_name = Umatilla Bridge

|image = Umatilla Bridges.jpg

|image_size = 220

|caption = Looking north from Oregon; older bridge in the foreground

|official_name = Interstate 82 Columbia River Bridge

|carries = {{jct|country=USA|I|82|US|395}}

|crosses = Columbia River

|locale = Benton County, Washington – Umatilla County, Oregon

|maint = Washington State Department of Transportation{{cite journal |date=August 20, 2009 |title=Asset Management: Bridge Assessment Annual Report |page=20 |url=https://wsdot.wa.gov/eesc/bridge/preservation/GrayNotebookJun09-Bridges.pdf |journal=The Gray Notebook |issue=34 |publisher=Washington State Department of Transportation |accessdate=December 26, 2023}}

|id =

|designer =

|design = Through truss cantilever bridge (southbound)
Arch bridge (northbound)

|material = Steel (southbound)
Concrete (northbound)

|spans = 5 (southbound)
2 (northbound)

|pierswater =

|mainspan = {{convert|600|ft|1|abbr=on}} (southbound)

|length = {{convert|3308|ft|1|abbr=on}} (southbound)
{{convert|3433|ft|m|1|abbr=on}} (northbound)

|width = {{convert|27.58|ft|1|abbr=on}} (southbound)

|height =

|load =

|clearance = {{convert|16|ft|1|abbr=on}} (southbound)

|below = {{convert|85|ft|1|abbr=on}} (southbound)
{{convert|80|ft|1|abbr=on}} (northbound)

|traffic = 10,800 (2017){{Cite web |title=I-82 (HWY 070) WB over COLUMBIA RIVER |url=https://bridgereports.com/1451642 |access-date=January 5, 2023 |website=BridgeReports.com}}

|begin =

|complete =

|open = July 15, 1955 (southbound)
1988 (northbound)

|closed =

|toll =

|map_cue =

|map_image =

|map_text =

|map_width =

|coordinates = {{coord|45.931|N|119.328|W|region:US_type:landmark|display=inline,title}}

|lat =

|long =

}}

The Umatilla Bridge is the collective name for a pair of bridges in the northwest United States, carrying Interstate 82/U.S. Route 395 (I-82/US 395) across the Columbia River at the Washington–Oregon border. The older bridge opened in July 1955 and is a steel through truss cantilever bridge and carries southbound (east on I-82) traffic. Northbound traffic (west on I-82) and pedestrians travel on the newer concrete arch bridge, opened in 1988.

History

= Construction =

The old bridge was proposed by Umatilla County judge James H. Sturgis and known as "Sturgis' folly" initially. The construction upstream of McNary Dam would create Lake Wallula and submerge the old Wallula Highway. In the interim, traffic was carried across the newly formed lake via ferry service, with 178,576 vehicles transported in 1951.{{cite report |author = Center for Columbia River History |url = https://www.ccrh.org/comm/umatilla/primary/ferries.htm |title = "Document" adapted from Report on A Proposed Highway Bridge Across the Columbia River At Umatilla, Oregon for Umatilla County, Oregon, Benton County, Washington, Oregon Highway Commission, Washington Toll Bridge Authority, September, 1952 |publisher = Center for Columbia River History |date = n.d. |access-date = June 24, 2008 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080516082343/https://www.ccrh.org/comm/umatilla/primary/ferries.htm |archive-date = May 16, 2008 }} The bridge was dedicated on July 15, 1955, by the governors of Oregon and Washington.{{cite news |last=Orchard |first=Vance |date=March 19, 1967 |title=Umatilla Bridge Was Opened 12 Years Ago |page=10 |work=Walla Walla Union-Bulletin}} The bridge was financed by $10 million worth of bonds and operated as a toll bridge while under county ownership.{{cite news |url = https://news.google.com/newspapers?id=yvRVAAAAIBAJ&pg=6803%2C625578 |newspaper = Eugene Register-Guard |agency = Associated Press |title = Use of Umatilla Bridge Suggested by Governor |date = February 4, 1958 |page = 5B |via = Google News }} The tolls were removed on August 30, 1974, and ownership of the bridge was transferred to the states of Oregon and Washington on November 1 of that year following the repayment of bonds.{{cite news |last=Boone |first=Jerry |date=August 30, 1974 |title=Now it's Umatilla free bridge |page=1 |work=Tri-City Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114020695/now-its-umatilla-free-bridge/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 2, 2022}}{{cite news |last=Hiatt |first=Gene |date=August 30, 1974 |title=Two states to take over bridge ownership Nov. 1 |page=24 |work=Tri-City Herald |url=https://www.newspapers.com/clip/114020676/two-states-to-take-over-bridge/ |via=Newspapers.com |accessdate=December 2, 2022}}{{cite web |url = https://www.historylink.org/essays/output.cfm?file_id=8030 |title = Umatilla Bridge spanning the Columbia River opens on April 15, 1955 |work = HistoryLink |first1 = Priscilla |last1 = Long |last2 = Gibson |first2 = Elizabeth |date = February 15, 2007 |access-date = June 24, 2008 }} The Washington State Department of Transportation became the lead agency responsible for maintenance and operating the structure.

The original span was considered for inclusion on the National Register of Historic Places in the early 2000s.{{cite news |last=Lord |first=Kristina |date=July 17, 2001 |title=Bridges to history: Mid-Columbia bridges considered for National Register of Historic Places |pages=A1–A2 |work=Tri-City Herald}}

= Rehabilitation =

In June 2017, work began on the rehabilitation of the older steel truss bridge. The bridge had been found to be structurally deficient by the Washington State Department of Transportation and required a two-stage project, beginning with the replacement of the bridge deck at a cost of $11 million.{{cite news |last=Culverwell |first=Wendy |date=June 9, 2017 |title=Work starts Monday on $10M Umatilla Bridge repairs |url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article155429614.html |work=Tri-City Herald |access-date=June 3, 2019}} The eastbound bridge was closed and all traffic was moved to the newer westbound bridge, which was reduced to one lane per direction, until work was completed two years later.{{cite news |last=Culverwell |first=Wendy |date=June 9, 2019 |title=This 'structurally deficient' I-82 bridge took 2 years to fix. It's ready to open again |url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article231228653.html |work=Tri-City Herald |accessdate=December 26, 2023}} During the closure, a traffic jam from the August 21, 2017, solar eclipse caused mile-long backups approaching the Columbia River.{{cite news |last=Culverwell |first=Wendy |date=August 22, 2017 |title=Eclipse + bridge work = epic I-82 traffic jam |url=https://www.tri-cityherald.com/news/local/article168763272.html |work=Tri-City Herald |accessdate=December 26, 2023}} The second project to repaint the steel truss structure is estimated to cost $40 million and is expected to be funded at a later date.

Description

It is a five-span continuous Warren through truss design. The configuration of the span is unusual in the fact that it takes advantage of a submerged island near the middle of the Columbia River. With its two {{convert|600|ft|-1|adj=on}} spans, each constructed using the cantilever method, this is the only bridge in Oregon having two spans constructed using that method.{{cite web |url = https://www.environment.fhwa.dot.gov/env_topics/historic_pres/highways_list.aspx |title = Final List of Nationally and Exceptionally Significant Features of the Federal Interstate Highway System |author = Federal Highway Administration |author-link = Federal Highway Administration |date = November 1, 2006 |publisher = Federal Highway Administration |access-date = June 24, 2008 }}