The Sam Hill Memorial Bridge, also known as the Biggs Rapids Bridge, is a steel

truss bridge A truss bridge is a bridge whose load-bearing superstructure is composed of a truss, a structure of connected elements, usually forming triangular units. The connected elements (typically straight) may be stressed from tension, compression, or ...

in the

northwest The points of the compass are a set of horizontal, radially arrayed compass directions (or azimuths) used in navigation and cartography. A compass rose is primarily composed of four cardinal directions—north, east, south, and west—each ...

United States The United States of America (U.S.A. or USA), commonly known as the United States (U.S. or US) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It consists of 50 U.S. state, states, a Washington, D.C., federal district, five ma ...

that carries U.S. Route 97 (US 97) across the Columbia River between Biggs Junction in

Sherman County, Oregon Sherman County is one of the 36 counties in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2020 census, the population was 1,870, making it the second-least populous county in Oregon after nearby Wheeler. The county seat is Moro, and the largest city ...

, and

Maryhill Maryhill ( gd, Cnoc Màiri) is an area of the City of Glasgow in Scotland. Maryhill is a former burgh. Maryhill stretches over along Maryhill Road. The far north west of the area is served by Maryhill railway station. History Hew Hill ...

Klickitat County, Washington Klickitat County is a county located in the U.S. state of Washington. As of the 2020 census, the population was 22,735. The county seat and largest city is Goldendale. The county is named after the Klickitat tribe. History Klickitat Count ...

. It was named in honor of the early bridge proponent Sam Hill, the builder of the nearby Maryhill Museum of Art. Construction on the Biggs Rapids Bridge began on October 3, 1960, and was funded by the

Washington State Toll Bridge Authority The Washington Toll Bridge Authority was created in 1937 by the Washington State Legislature, with a mandate to finance, construct and operate toll bridges. The first act of the Authority was to purchase the Manette Bridge The Manette Bridge ...

. It is long, including a main truss span, and weighs . The bridge cost $2.4 million to construct and was dedicated in honor of Sam Hill during its opening ceremonies on November 1, 1962. It was initially a

toll bridge A toll bridge is a bridge where a monetary charge (or '' toll'') is required to pass over. Generally the private or public owner, builder and maintainer of the bridge uses the toll to recoup their investment, in much the same way as a toll road ...

charging $1 per vehicle, but the tolls were removed in February 1975. The bridge was closed during part of 2007–2008 in order to complete repairs to the deck. Originally the

Washington State Department of Transportation The Washington State Department of Transportation (WSDOT or WashDOT, both ) is a governmental agency that constructs, maintains, and regulates the use of transportation infrastructure in the U.S. state of Washington. Established in 1905, it is ...

planned to replace the entire deck in 2010, but accelerated the project due to rapidly deteriorating roadway. By March 2009 the project was finished at a total cost of project $16 million, split evenly between Oregon and Washington. It included replacing the deck with concrete, installing new railing, improving the drainage systems, and replacing the existing lighting. The new deck is expected to last 25 years.

References

U.S. Route 97 Bridges completed in 1962 Columbia River Gorge Bridges over the Columbia River Transportation buildings and structures in Klickitat County, Washington Transportation buildings and structures in Sherman County, Oregon Road bridges in Oregon Road bridges in Washington (state) Bridges of the United States Numbered Highway System 1962 establishments in Oregon Former toll bridges in Oregon Former toll bridges in Washington (state) Steel bridges in the United States {{Washington-bridge-struct-stub

See also

References