Industrial History: 1932,1991 US-101 Cape Creek Bridge and Tunnel near Florence, OR

Bridge: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Historic Bridges; Satellite, 273 photos)

Tunnel: (Archived Bridge Hunter; Satellite: North Portal, South Portal (the road is hidden in the shadow))

HAER ORE,20-FLO,1--2
2. General view from highway - Cape Creek Bridge, Spanning Cape Creek at Oregon Coast Highway, Florence, Lane County, OR

Significance: The Cape Creek Bridge is an example of an ancient bridge design combined with early twentieth-century use of reinforced concrete construction techniques. While reminiscent of Roman stone aqueducts because of its two tiers of numerous arches and columns, the 619-foot [189m] bridge incorporates in its design a 220-foot [67m] open-spandrel rib-type reinforced-concrete deck arch. At the time of the bridge's construction, the U.S. Bureau of Public Roads was completing a 700-foot tunnel through nearby Heceta Head, at the south approach to Cape Creek Bridge. Both undertakings were part of long-range plans to complete a highway along the length of the Pacific Coast. This section of highway presented engineers with major construction problems. It became known to many as the "million-dollar mile" because of its high cost.
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HAER ORE,20-FLO,1--10
10. Elevation view of the Cape Creek Bridge, view looking east

"Although the bridge was designed to give the appearance of a multi-level arch bridge, the approach spans, as well as the deck spans between columns of the main arch span, function as concrete t-beam bridges, with the arch-shaped fascia in front." [HistoricBridges]

Phil Block posted two photos with the comment:

Cape Creek Bridge
On the Oregon Coast Highway, below the Heceta Head Lighthouse, the 619 foot long bridge opened in 1932. It's listed on the National Register of Historic Places and like the most beautiful bridges found on the coast was designed by Conde McCullough.