New bridge interpretive display dedication set for May 24 in Astoria

May 10, 2016                                                       For more information: Lou Torres, 503-986-2880 5-96-R2                                                                              email at: louis.c.torres@odot.state.or.us

                                                                                                                                                           

New bridge interpretive display dedication set for May 24 in Astoria

       Event to be held at Lewis and Clark River Bridge at 11 a.m.

ASTORIA—The dedication of a new bridge interpretive display that pays homage to famous bridge designer/engineer Conde B. McCullough and local bridge history is scheduled for 11 a.m. on Tuesday, May 24 at the west end of the Lewis and Clark River Bridge on U.S. 101 Business.

Oregon Department of Transportation Director Matt Garrett will be on hand to help dedicate the new display.   The event is open to the public.

A contractor working for the Oregon Department of Transportation is in the process of completing major repairs to the historic Old Youngs Bay and Lewis and Clark River Bridges on U.S. 101Business in Astoria.   The rehabilitation project was started in late 2014 and is continuing until late 2017.

 

Extensive repair work has been completed on the Lewis and Clark River Bridge. The contractor is now concentrating on rehabilitation and repairs of the Old Youngs Bay Bridge.

 

Both bridges are historic structures built in the early 1920s. Rebuilding of the west approach on the Lewis & Clark River Bridge was considered an “adverse effect to the historic resource” under federal regulations so ODOT is required to provide mitigation. As part of the required mitigation, ODOT contracted to design and construct an interpretive display about the bridges.

 

The new display is located on ODOT property at the west end of Lewis & Clark River Bridge, in an existing pullout adjacent to the Astoria Airport Dike trail.

 

 

Suenn Ho Design of Portland was hired by ODOT to complete design fabrication and installation of the display.  The display incorporates historic materials salvaged from both bridges, including the old gears from the Old Youngs Bay Bridge, and wood posts from Lewis & Clark River Bridge. Also included in the display is information on the unique history of the bridges and its famous bridge designer/engineer, Conde B. McCullough.

 

Suenn Ho also performed school outreach for the project, and partnered with the local school district to involve both high school and elementary school students in the display.

 

The Astoria High School shop class fabricated a time capsule which is incorporated into the display. A poetry contest was held at Lewis & Clark Elementary School involving the 3^rd, 4^th and 5^th grade classes.    Students submitted poems and drawings about what the bridges mean to them.  These submittals are sandblasted into the stone panels and featured on the interpretive display, and the originals will be placed in the time capsule.

 

 

 

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