The Astoria–Megler Bridge is a steel cantilever through truss bridge in the northwest
United States that spans the lower Columbia River, between Astoria, Oregon, and Point
Ellice near Megler, Washington. Opened 52 years ago in 1966, it is the longest continuous
truss bridge in North America.
Located fourteen miles from the mouth of the river at the Pacific Ocean, the bridge is
4.067 miles in length, and was the final segment of U.S. Route 101 to be completed between
Olympia, Washington, and Los Angeles, California.
erry service between Astoria and the Washington side of the Columbia River began in 1926.
The Oregon Department of Transportation purchased the ferry service in 1946. This ferry
service did not operate during inclement weather and the half-hour travel time caused delays.
In order to allow faster and more reliable crossings near the mouth of the river, a bridge
was planned. The bridge was built jointly by the Oregon Department of Transportation and
Washington State Department of Transportation.
Construction on the structure began on November 5, 1962, and the concrete piers were
cast at Tongue Point, four miles upriver. The steel structure was built in segments at
Vancouver, Washington, ninety miles upriver, then barged downstream where hydraulic jacks lifted them
into place. On August 27, 1966, with more than 30,000 in attendance, Governors Mark Hatfield
of Oregon and Dan Evans of Washington opened the bridge by cutting a ceremonial ribbon.
The cost of the project was $24 million, equivalent to $181 million today, and was paid for
by tolls that were removed on December 24, 1993, more than two years early.