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Columbia River as seen from Astoria, Oregon.
The Astoria-Megler Bridge is on the left and Point Ellice, Washington, is on the right, behind the ship.
Image taken February 19, 2005.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge ...
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The Astoria-Megler Bridge stretches 4.1 miles (21,474 feet) from
Astoria, Oregon, across the mouth of the
Columbia River, to
Point Ellice, Washington, at Columbia River Mile (RM) 14.
The bridge replaced previous ferry lines running from Washington to Oregon (see more below).
The main span is a 2,468-foot steel cantilever through truss, and is flanked by five steel deck trusses, one hundred forty 80-foot concrete deck girder spans, and, at the Washington end of the bridge, seven 350-foot steel through truss spans. The bridge was designed jointly by the Oregon and Washington state highway departments.
Construction on the the Astoria-Megler Bridge began in 1962 and was formally dedicated August 27, 1966. Initially the bridge was a toll bridge. However, in 1993, a full 2 years early, the bridge was paid off and the toll was removed.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon.
Image taken June 16, 2004.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon.
Image taken June 16, 2004.
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On the Bridge ...
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On the Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Megler, Washington, looking towards Astoria, Oregon.
Image taken February 19, 2005.
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On the Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon, looking towards Point Ellice, Washington.
Image taken April 19, 2005.
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Washington State to Astoria Ferries ...
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In 1805 Lewis and Clark could not cross the Columbia River at its mouth, causing them to retrace their steps back up the Washington shore to cross near the narrower area near Pillar Rock. For years afterwards crossing the Columbia was a problem.
In 1840 the first ferry service began across the river.
Solomon Smith, Astoria's first school teacher, connected two canoes
together and began carrying passengers and cargo across the river.
In 1915 construction was completed on the Columbia River Highway - Highway 30 - linking Astoria and Portland. This new highway increased the traffic into Astoria, and arose a demand for ferry service that was dependable. In 1921 Captain Fritz Elfving created a ferry service around a ferry named "The Tourist". As time went on Captain Elfving also operated "The Tourist No.2" and "The Tourist No.3". See "The Golden Age of Postcards" below for more information on these ferries.
A 1927 Astoria Harbor Map created by the Port of Astoria [Washington State Univ. Libraries Collection #589] shows two ferry lines meeting in Astoria
near 15th Street (a couple of blocks downstream of the Columbia River Maritime Museum). One line labeled "Astoria-North Beach Ferry Company, Two Ferries" ran from
Point Ellice, Washington, to Astoria. The other line labeled "Union Pacific System Ferry Line" ran from
Megler, Washington, to Astoria.
The State of Oregon purchased Captain Elfving's company in 1946 and assigned the operation to the State Highway Department (today's ODOT). This ferry service allowed people to travel along with their vehicles from Oregon to Washington. In good weather, a one way trip took about one half hour.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, Oregon side ...
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Good views of the Astoria-Megler Bridge can be seen from Coxcomb Hill, plus along the river throughout downtown Astoria. The bridge can also be seen while crossing the Youngs Bay Bridge west of Astoria.
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Columbia River from Astoria, Oregon.
The Astoria-Megler bridge is in the background.
Image taken February 19, 2005.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge and the mouth of the Columbia River.
View from Coxcomb Hill, Astoria, Oregon.
Image taken May 25, 2004.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, Oregon side.
View from Coxcomb Hill, Astoria, Oregon.
Image taken April 19, 2005.
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Smith Point, Astoria, Oregon, with Astoria-Megler Bridge.
View of the Astoria-Megler Bridge and Smith Point, with the eastern end of the Youngs Bay Bridge reaching Smith Point (on the right). View from car while crossing the Youngs Bay Bridge (U.S. Highway 101).
Image taken August 2, 2003.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon.
Image taken August 2, 2003.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon.
Image taken October 13, 2007.
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Driving under the Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon.
Image taken October 13, 2007.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington side ...
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The Washington side of the Astoria-Megler Bridge can be viewed from Point Ellice, the northern end of the bridge. Other views are from Megler Rest Area, upstream of the bridge, and from pulloffs along Highway 401, on the downstream side of the bridge.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington side, and Point Ellice.
View from Coxcomb Hill, Astoria, Oregon.
Image taken April 19, 2005.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge from Point Ellice, Washington.
View from upstream of Point Ellice, off of Washington State Highway 401.
Image taken June 16, 2004.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge and Point Ellice, Washington.
View from Megler Rest Area.
Image taken April 9, 2004.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington State end.
View from downstream Point Ellice and upstream Station Camp, off of Washington State Highway 401.
Image taken April 9, 2004.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington State end.
View from Megler Rest Area, off of Washington State Highway 401.
Image taken April 9, 2004.
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Point Ellice, Washington, with the Astoria-Megler Bridge.
View from Megler Rest Area off of Washington Highway 401.
Image taken November 9, 2005.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington side.
Image taken April 19, 2005.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington side.
Image taken April 19, 2005.
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"The Golden Age of Postcards" ...
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The early 1900s was the "Golden Age of Postcards", with the "Penny Postcard" being a popular way to send greetings to family and friends. Today the Penny Postcards have become a snapshot of history.
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Penny Postcard: Astoria-Megler Ferry, Tourist No.2.
Penny Postcard, "Astoria-Megler Ferry". Caption on back reads: "Tourist No.2, Astoria, Oregon-Megler, Washington Ferry. This ferry connects Pacific Coast Highway 101 across the mouth of the Columbia River. The 10 mile trip takes approximately 30 minutes." Published by Anderson Sundry Co., Portland, Oregon. Color by Mel Anderson.
In the private collection of Lyn Topinka.
The "Tourist No.2" Ferry was one of the ferries used on the Astoria-Megler route. The ferry was a wooden-hulled vessel, 110-feet long and 36-feet wide which began service in 1924. The diesel-powered ferry could carry 20 cars and 155 people. She belonged to Captain Elfving's company until the attack on Pearl Harbor in 1941, when the Army commandeered the ferry for laying mines in the lower Columbia River. Later the Army used the Tourist No.2 as a ferry running between Fort Canby and Fort Stevens. At the end of WWII the Army sold the ferry back to Elfving who operated it until the state of Oregon purchased the company in 1946.
In 1966 the Tourist No.2 was sent to Alaska and used as a floating cannery.
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From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...
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