Lewis and Clark Bridge (Columbia River) facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Lewis and Clark Bridge |
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| Carries |  SR 433 |
| Crosses | Columbia River |
| Locale | Longview, Washington to Rainier, Oregon |
| Maintained by | Washington State DOT |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Cantilever through-truss |
| Total length | 2,722 feet (830 m) |
| Longest span | 1,200 ft (366 m) |
| History | |
| Designer | Joseph Strauss |
The Lewis and Clark Bridge is a cool cantilever bridge that connects Longview, Washington and Rainier, Oregon. It crosses the big Columbia River. When it was first finished, it had the longest "cantilever" part of any bridge in the whole United States!
Contents
History of the Lewis and Clark Bridge
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The bridge first opened on March 29, 1930. It was a private bridge back then. Its original name was the Longview Bridge.
Building the bridge cost about $5.8 million. To get this money back, people had to pay a small fee, called a toll, to cross it. Cars paid $1.00, and people walking paid $0.10.
At that time, it was the longest and tallest cantilever bridge in the United States. In 1947, the state of Washington bought the bridge.
From Tolls to Free Crossing
The tolls were removed in 1965. This happened after the bridge was fully paid for. So, people could cross it for free!
In 1980, the bridge got a new name. It was renamed the Lewis and Clark Bridge. This honored the famous Lewis and Clark Expedition.
Bridge Upgrades and Repairs
The bridge's top surface, called the deck, was replaced. This big project happened in 2003 and 2004. It cost about $29.2 million to make these important updates.
Bridge Design and Size
The Lewis and Clark Bridge is very long. It stretches for about 8,288 feet (2.5 kilometers). That's like walking across more than 27 football fields!
The main part of the bridge, called the main span, is 1,200 feet (366 meters) long. The very top of the bridge reaches 340 feet (104 meters) above the river. This allows tall ships to pass underneath.
Who Designed This Amazing Bridge?
The bridge was designed by Joseph Strauss. He was a very famous engineer. He also designed another super famous bridge, the Golden Gate Bridge!
A Historic Landmark: National Register of Historic Places
In 1982, the bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places. This means it's an important historical site. It was listed under its original name, the Longview Bridge.
