Lewis and Clark's Columbia River
Lewis & Clark's Columbia River - "200 Years Later"
"Astoria-Megler Bridge"
Includes ... Astoria-Megler Bridge ... Point Ellice-Astoria Ferry ... Astoria-Megler Ferry ... Tourist No.2 ...
Image, 2005, Columbia River from Astoria, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		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.


Astoria-Megler Bridge ...
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 Astoria to Washington. 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.

Image, 2004, Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon. Image taken June 16, 2004.
Image, 2004, Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon. Image taken June 16, 2004.


Washington to Astoria Ferries ...
In 1915 construction was completed on the Columbia River Highway (today's Highway 30) linking Astoria and Portland Along with the new highway to Astoria came a demand for reliable ferry service from Astoria to Washington State. In 1921 Captain Fritz Elfving created a ferry service between Astoria and McGowan with a ferry named "The Tourist". For the next 45 years ferry service existed out of Astoria, and ended with the opening of the Astoria to Megler Bridge in 1966. The last ferry run was the "M.R. Chessman" on July 28, 1966.
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Astoria-Megler Bridge, Oregon side ...
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.

Image, 2005, Columbia River from Astoria, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Columbia River from Astoria, Oregon. The Astoria-Megler bridge is in the background. Image taken February 19, 2005.
Image, 2004, Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Coxcomb Hill, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge and the mouth of the Columbia River. View from Coxcomb Hill, Astoria, Oregon. Image taken May 25, 2004.
Image, 2005, Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Coxcomb Hill, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge, Oregon side. View from Coxcomb Hill, Astoria, Oregon. Image taken April 19, 2005.
Image, 2003, Astoria, Oregon, and the Astoria-Megler Bridge, from U.S. Highway 101, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		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.
Image, 2003, Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon. Image taken August 2, 2003.
Image, 2007, Driving under the Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon. Image taken October 13, 2007.
Image, 2013, Driving under the Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Driving under the Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon. At dusk with setting sun. Image taken February 2, 2013.


Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington side ...
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.

Image, 2005, Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington side, from Coxcomb Hill, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington side, and Point Ellice. View from Coxcomb Hill, Astoria, Oregon. Image taken April 19, 2005.
Image, 2004, Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Point Ellice, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge from Point Ellice, Washington. View from upstream of Point Ellice, off of Washington State Highway 401. Image taken June 16, 2004.
Image, 2005, Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington side, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington side. Image taken April 19, 2005.
Image, 2004, Astoria-Megler Bridge and Point Ellice, Washington, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge and Point Ellice, Washington. View from Megler Rest Area. Image taken April 9, 2004.
Image, 2004, Astoria-Megler Bridge, from near Station Camp, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		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.
Image, 2004, Astoria-Megler Bridge, from near Megler, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Astoria-Megler Bridge, Washington State end. View from Megler Rest Area, off of Washington State Highway 401. Image taken April 9, 2004.
Image, 2005, Point Ellice from Megler Rest Area, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		Point Ellice, Washington, with the Astoria-Megler Bridge. View from Megler Rest Area off of Washington Highway 401. Image taken November 9, 2005.


Crossing the Bridge ...
The over-four-mile-long Astoria-Megler Bridge connects Astoria, Oregon, with Point Ellice and Megler, Washington.

Image, 2005, On the Astoria-Megler Bridge, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		On the Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Megler, Washington, looking towards Astoria, Oregon. Image taken February 19, 2005.
Image, 2005, On the Astoria-Megler Bridge, click to enlarge
Click image to enlarge 		On the Astoria-Megler Bridge, from Astoria, Oregon, looking towards Point Ellice, Washington. Image taken April 19, 2005.


"The Golden Age of Postcards" ...

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.


From the Journals of Lewis and Clark ...

Clark, November 15, 1805 ...



Journey to the PacificReturn to
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*River Miles [RM] are approximate, in statute miles, and were determined from USGS topo maps, obtained from NOAA nautical charts, or obtained from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers website, 2003

Sources:
  • Astoria-Warrenton Chamber of Commerce website, 2004;
  • Clatsop County Historical Society website, 2004;
  • Oregon Department of Transportation website, 2004, 2006;
  • "StateOfOregon.com" website, 2005;
  • Washington State University Libraries Digital Collections website, 2004, "Early Washington Maps";


All Lewis and Clark quotations from Gary Moulton editions of the Lewis and Clark Journals, University of Nebraska Press, all attempts have been made to type the quotations exactly as in the Moulton editions, however typing errors introduced by this web author cannot be ruled out; location interpretation from variety of sources, including this website author.
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August 2016