The Umatilla Bridge

I-82 and US 395 from Umatilla OR to Plymouth WA

The Umatilla Bridges offer a contrast in bridge technology over time. The earlier bridge, built in the mid 1950s as a toll bridge by Umatilla County, is a two span steel through trus cantilever. The newer bridge, built upstream in the mid 1980s, is a segmental concrete bridge with two main spans. These spans were the longest of their type when completed.

When the location for the I-82 crossing of the Columbia River was determined in the mid 1970s, the 1950s vintage bridge became state owned. The county road linking Washington SR 14 at Plymouth with the bridge was added to the state highway system as SR 143. This designation was removed when I-82 was opened to traffic from the southern outskirts of Kennewick to the Columbia River in 1985. US 395 was rerouted via I-82 from Umatilla to the Tri-Cities in 1986. When the newer bridge opened in 1987, the older bridge was closed for renovation for several months. Narrow sidewalks on the older bridge were replaced by narrow shoulders. The newer bridge is equipped with a pedestrian/bucycle path on the upstream side. The approach spans were rebuilt. The grade of the northern approach was changed. The original connection between SR 14 and the bridge passed beneath the railroad tracks at Plymouth. The freeway passes over the tracks.

This photograph was taken in May 2001 with Oregon in the foreground.