Carries SR 155 Design Thru cantilever truss Opened 1934 Materials Concrete, Steel | Built 1934 (1934) Total length 332 m Added to NRHP 16 July 1982 | |
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Architect Washington Department of Highways Similar Chief Joseph Dam, Grand Coulee Dam, Senator George Sellar Bri, Lewis and Clark Bridge, Julia Butler Hansen Bridge | ||
The Grand Coulee Bridge, or Columbia River Bridge at Grand Coulee Dam, is a steel thru cantilever truss bridge built in 1934-1935. It carries Washington State Route 155 across the Columbia River immediately below Grand Coulee Dam, near the city of Grand Coulee, Washington. It was added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
Map of Grand Coulee Bridge, Coulee Dam, WA 99116, USA
The bridge was built to transport heavy equipment across the Columbia river during the construction of the dam, and thereafter as permanent highway bridge. As such, it was designed to carry a heavier load than was typical. The bridge is supported by two concrete piers, about 150 ft high. During construction, one of the piers began to tilt, probably due to fine glacial material under the gravel. Additional supports were added as a temporary measure. The piers were later taken down to the bedrock using pneumatic caissons.