Blue Bridge (Washington) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Blue Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 46°13′29.92″N 119°8′8.52″W / 46.2249778°N 119.1357000°W |
| Carries | Four lanes of  US 395 |
| Crosses | Columbia River |
| Locale | Kennewick-Pasco, Washington |
| Official name | Pioneer Memorial Bridge |
| Maintained by | Washington State Dept. of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Through arch shaped Truss bridge |
| Material | Concrete/steel |
| Total length | 2,520 ft (768.1 m) |
| History | |
| Construction begin | September 19, 1951 |
| Opened | July 30, 1954 |
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Pioneer Memorial Bridge – Blue Bridge
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| Nearest city | Pasco, Washington |
| Built | 1954 |
| MPS | Bridges and Tunnels Built in Washington State, 1951-1960 MPS |
| NRHP reference No. | 02000241 |
| Added to NRHP | February 7, 2002 |
The Blue Bridge, officially called the Pioneer Memorial Bridge, is a large bridge in Washington state. It has four lanes for cars and connects the cities of Pasco, Washington and Kennewick, Washington. This bridge helps U.S. Route 395 cross the mighty Columbia River.
The bridge gets its common name, "Blue Bridge," from the bright blue paint on its main frame. The beams that hold it up are painted white. When the bridge was first built, it was actually painted green, which is Washington's state color.
The Blue Bridge is one of three important bridges that connect Pasco to the other cities in the Tri-Cities area. These other cities are Kennewick and Richland. The other bridges are the Cable Bridge to the east and the Interstate 182 Bridge to the northwest.
Building the Blue Bridge
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The idea for the Blue Bridge came about in 1949. The old bridge, known as the "Green Bridge," was getting too busy. More than 10,000 cars were using it every day, and it couldn't handle all the traffic.
Work on the new bridge began in 1951. It took about three years to build. The construction was finished in the summer of 1954. The total cost to build this impressive bridge was around $7 million.
The Blue Bridge was officially opened on July 30, 1954. A large United States flag flies proudly at the top of the bridge. This flag was added in 1989 when the bridge's road surface was replaced.
Improving Traffic Flow
The Blue Bridge is a very busy spot, especially during rush hour. This is when many people are driving to or from work or school. The area where U.S. Route 395 meets State Route 240 on the Kennewick side of the bridge used to get very crowded.
To help with this traffic, plans were made in 2005 to improve the roads around the bridge. This included changing how cars get on and off the bridge. Instead of a complex cloverleaf design, two roundabouts were built. Roundabouts are circular intersections that can help traffic move more smoothly.
Construction on these improvements started on February 23, 2006. The project was completed in October 2009, making it easier for drivers to use the Blue Bridge.
A Historic Landmark
The Blue Bridge is not just important for daily travel; it's also recognized for its history. In 2002, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's considered a special place that is important to the history of the United States. Its official number on the register is 02000241.
