Astoria–Megler Bridge

The Astoria–Megler Bridge is a steel cantilever bridge crossing the Columbia River between Astoria, Oregon, and Point Ellice, Washington. It carries U.S. Route 101 and is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America.

Cantilever bridge: A bridge supported by structures that project horizontally from piers or towers, often meeting at midspan. The bridge’s principal span uses a cantilever truss rather than a suspension system.
Continuous truss bridge: A truss bridge whose connected spans transfer loads across multiple supports as one continuous structural system. Its main structure is a continuous cantilever truss spanning the river’s navigation channel.
Oregon Department of Transportation: The Oregon state agency responsible for transportation planning, infrastructure, and highway administration. The agency owns and maintains the Oregon portion of the bridge.
Columbia River maritime traffic: Commercial and recreational vessel movement along the Columbia River and its estuary. Its navigable channel passes beneath the bridge’s high central span.
Coastal connectivity: The ease with which people, goods, and services move among communities along a coast. The bridge links coastal highways and communities previously separated by the river crossing.
Truss bridge: A bridge whose framework uses connected members arranged in triangular units to carry loads. The bridge’s steel superstructure relies on trusses to distribute traffic loads.
Cantilever truss: A truss structure that projects outward from supports, sometimes meeting a suspended span between its cantilevers. Cantilever action allows the bridge’s central reach without supports obstructing the shipping channel.
Washington State Department of Transportation: The Washington state agency responsible for transportation infrastructure and highway administration. The bridge is jointly maintained with Oregon’s transportation agency.
U.S. Route 101 in Oregon: The Oregon segment of the coastal highway U.S. Route 101. The bridge continues the highway across the river at Oregon’s northern coast.
Astoria–Megler Bridge opening: The 1966 inauguration of the highway bridge linking Oregon and Washington across the Columbia River. Its opening created a direct road crossing where ferry service had been required.

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