1929,2003 Lewis and Clark Bridge over Columbia River at Longview, WA

(Archived Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; Satellite, 177 photos)

HAER WASH,8-LONVI,1--1, cropped
1. LONGVIEW BRIDGE FROM UPSTREAM SIDE IN ELEVATION - Longview Bridge, Spanning Columbia River at State Route 433, Longview, Cowlitz County, WA

Michael Goff via Bridge Hunter

"Significance: The Longview Bridge, designed by engineer Joseph B. Strauss, was at time of construction the longest cantilever span in North America with its 1,200' [366m] central section. Extreme vertical and horizontal shipping channel requirements requested by Portland, Oregon, as a means to prevent the bridge's construction created the reason for such an imposing structure." [HAER_data and BridgeHunter]

HAER WASH,8-LONVI,1--13
13. OBLIQUE VIEW OF MAIN SPAN

Lewis & Clark Bridge

Posted March 18, 2013, by Nathan Holth (webmaster [at] historicbridges [dot] org)

Enjoyed looking at the article. Each historic bridge has a unique story, and I simply feel it should be told as accurately as possible which I why I felt the need to point out the length issue. The story of this bridge is certainly very unusual... the construction of a monumental sized bridge not out of need, but out of politics. It also is one of the few large-span bridges that famous engineer Joseph Strauss actually designed (given that he didn't really have as much to do with the Golden Gate as he and his statue would have you believe). Strauss proposed a design for the Blue Water Bridge in Michigan that was not accepted, but clearly was based off his design for this bridge.

The story of Pont de Quebec is also quite a story, where the effort to construct the world's longest cantilever span took two tries and took the lives of 88 people.

Lewis & Clark Bridge

Posted March 18, 2013, by K. A. Erickson

Nitpick. Nitpick.

I am sure they meant USA or perhaps if there is a Midwest span, longest in the Pacific Northwest.

Do you realize the efforts it took to even get this bridge up? Portland did not want a bridge at Longview and kept imposing new restrictions on design hoping it would not get done. They feared loss of vital shipping with a low span. However, since these types of bridges were quite common on the Missouri, Mississippi, and Ohio Rivers it was easy to do.

http://www.crreader.com/2012/02/24/Columbia-River-History-Bu...

Lewis & Clark Bridge

Posted March 18, 2013, by Nathan Holth (webmaster [at] historicbridges [dot] org)

I don't mean to diminish the extremely high level of historic significance of this magnificent, beautiful historic bridge, however the claim by HAER that its 1200 foot span was the longest in North America when completed is false. Pont de Quebec opened in 1917 has been and likely forever will be the longest cantilever truss span in North America and indeed the world with its 1800 foot span between piers. http://www.historicbridges.org/bridges/browser/?bridgebrowse...

Street View, Oct 2023

HistoricBridges

"In addition, it gave a 185' [56m] minimum vertical clearance at the channel piers and 195' [60m] at mid-span. The structure's extremely long cantilevered portion and unusually long anchor arms were required to comply with the permit's order to construct only one pier between the main channel and the Longview pier-head line." [HAER_data]

Albin Kampfer posted five photos with the comment:

Hello, first thanks for the add.  Second, I enjoyed looking at & reading about the Astoria-Meglar Bridge which is near where I live.

This is the Lewis and Clark Bridge about 50 miles up the river from the bridge in Astoria.  It’s the only crossing in the lower Columbia between Astoria and Portland.  

It was completed in 1930 got its name in 1980.  A privately owned bridge at first, the station of Washington bought it in 1947.  It was a toll bridge until 1965 when bonds were paid off just like the bridge in Astoria was a toll bridge until 1993 when its bonds were paid off.  The bridge is 2772 feet long linking Rainier, Oregon to Longview, Washington.

In the one picture you can see Mt. St Helens in the background.

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