Curlew Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Curlew Bridge |
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| Carries | Ferry Street |
| Crosses | Kettle River |
| Locale | Curlew, Washington |
| Heritage status | NRHP |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Pin-connected Parker Truss |
| Material | Steel |
| Total length | 61.6 metres (202 feet) |
| History | |
| Architect | William Oliver |
| Construction end | 1908 |
| Construction cost | $7,975 |
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Curlew Bridge
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Plaque identifying Curlew Bridge as No. 165
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| Location | Curlew, Washington |
| Area | Transportation Engineering |
| Built | 1908 |
| Architect | William Oliver |
| Architectural style | Parker Truss |
| MPS | Historic Bridges/Tunnels in Washington TR |
| NRHP reference No. | 82004210 |
| Added to NRHP | July 16, 1982 |
The Curlew Bridge is a special one-lane bridge in Curlew, Washington, USA. It was built way back in 1908. This bridge crosses the Kettle River. It's a type of bridge called a Parker Truss. After many years, the bridge needed a lot of work. So, it was taken apart and rebuilt between 2006 and 2007. This made the whole bridge strong and new again.
Building the First Curlew Bridge
Before the Curlew Bridge, people crossed the Kettle River in different ways. Native tribes used a ferry. Later, a cable ferry was built in 1897. But floods in 1898 washed it away.
To replace the ferry, a "Corduroy" bridge was built in 1901. This bridge was made from logs. However, it was also destroyed by flood waters.
In 1907, plans were made for a new, stronger bridge. The job was given to William Oliver. He built the bridge for $7,975. The bridge was finished in 1908. This was the 165th bridge built by William Oliver.
Making the Bridge New Again
Over the years, the Curlew Bridge had some repairs. It was painted in 1935. The wooden road surface was replaced many times.
In June 2004, an inspection showed the bridge was very worn out. Some important parts, called pins, were badly damaged. Because of this, the bridge was closed to cars. Only people walking could cross it.
People in the community really wanted to save the bridge. They did not want it removed or replaced with a new design. So, the county asked for money to fix it. They received funds in September 2004.
Work to fix the bridge began in June 2006. The bridge was completely taken apart. All its pieces were sent to Spokane. Each part was checked carefully. Worn-out parts were repaired or replaced. All the metal parts were cleaned by sandblasting. The wooden beams underneath were also replaced. This made the bridge able to hold more weight.
After all the parts were fixed, they were brought back to Curlew. Three large trucks carried them. The bridge was then put back together. It was officially opened again on February 14, 2007.
Images for kids
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William Oliver's sign on the east end of the bridge
