Ellsworth Street Bridge facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Ellsworth Street Bridge |
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| Coordinates | 44°38′21″N 123°06′24″W / 44.6393°N 123.106635°W |
| Carries |  US 20 |
| Crosses | Willamette River |
| Locale | Albany, Oregon |
| Maintained by | Oregon Department of Transportation |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Truss bridge |
| Total length | 1090 feet |
| Width | 26 feet |
| Longest span | 800 feet |
| History | |
| Opened | 1926 |
The Ellsworth Street Bridge is an important highway bridge in Albany, Oregon, United States. It crosses the wide Willamette River. This bridge was built in 1925 and opened in 1926.
It has two lanes and carries cars traveling east on U.S. Route 20. Right next to it, the Lyon Street Bridge handles traffic going west. The Ellsworth Street Bridge is a type of truss bridge made of strong steel. It is about 1,090 feet (332 meters) long. A famous engineer named Conde McCullough designed this impressive structure.
Contents
Building the Bridge
Early Bridges in Albany
Before the Ellsworth Street Bridge, other bridges crossed the Willamette River in Albany. In 1887, a bridge was built for the Corvallis and Eastern railway. Then, in 1893, the Steel Bridge was built a bit further down the river.
Designing a New Bridge
The state of Oregon decided to build a new bridge for cars in 1925. This was the start of the Ellsworth Street Bridge. Conde McCullough, a talented bridge designer for the state highway department, created its plans. The Union Bridge Company, from Portland, Oregon, built the bridge.
Opening Day
The bridge was finished in 1926. When it opened, it also completed the Albany-Corvallis Highway. At first, people just called it the Albany Bridge.
Bridge Improvements
Adding More Lanes
In 1973, the Lyon Street Bridge was built right next to the Ellsworth Street Bridge. This helped expand the road to four lanes in total. It made it easier for more cars to cross the river.
Keeping the Bridge Strong
The Ellsworth Street Bridge has been updated and repaired several times. It was refurbished in 1971 and again in 2002. These updates help keep the bridge safe and strong for all the cars that use it every day. For example, in 2004, about 9,850 cars crossed the bridge each day.
