Sam Hill Memorial Bridge

Infobox_Bridge
bridge_name=Biggs Rapids Bridge


official_name=Sam Hill Memorial Bridge
carries=vehicles
crosses=Columbia River
locale=Biggs Junction, Oregon
Maryhill, Washington
traffic= 5,100
maint=
design=steel through-truss
mainspan=
length=2,567 ft (783m)
width=26 ft
below=75 ft
open=November 1, 1962
lat=45.67600
long=-120.83607

The Sam Hill Memorial Bridge, also known as the Biggs Rapids Bridge, is a steel truss bridge that carries U.S. Highway 97 across the Columbia River between Biggs Junction, Oregon in Sherman County and Maryhill, Washington in Klickitat County. It was named in honor of the early bridge proponent and builder of the nearby Maryhill Museum, Sam Hill.

The bridge was opened on November 1, 1962 after two years of construction. [cite book | last= Holstine | first = Craig E. | title = Spanning Washington: Historic Highway Bridges of the Evergreen State | publisher = Washington State University Press | pages = 107-108 | date = 2005 | id = ISBN 0-87422-281-8 ] It was initially a toll bridge, but the tolls were removed in 1975.

The bridge is currently closed until Memorial Day (2008) in order to complete repairs to the deck. Originally the Washington State Department of Transportation planned to replace the entire deck in 2010, but accelerated the project due to rapidly deteriorating roadway. [cite news | first = Matthew | last = Preusch | title = Biggs project causes big detour | publisher = The Oregonian | date = January 1, 2007 | page = B1 | url = http://www.oregonlive.com/news/oregonian/index.ssf?/base/news/119915790915350.xml&coll=7 | accessdate = 2008-01-01] The total cost of the project is $16 million, split evenly between Oregon and Washington, and includes replacing the deck with a concrete, installing new railing, improving the drainage systems, and replacing the existing lighting. [cite web | title = US 97 - Biggs Rapids - Sam Hill Bridge Deck Replacement | publisher = WSDOT | url = http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/projects/US97/BiggsBridge | accessdate = 2008-01-01] The new deck is expected to last 25 years. [cite news | first = David | last = Lester | title = New year will start with detour at US 97 bridge at Biggs | publisher = Yakima Herald-Republic | date = December 9, 2007 | url = http://www.yakima-herald.com/page/dis/295296947683034 | accessdate = 2008-01-01]

References

Crossings navbox
structure = Crossings
place = Columbia River
bridge = Sam Hill Memorial Bridge
bridge signs =
upstream = John Day Dam
upstream signs =
downstream = Oregon Trunk Rail Bridge
downstream signs =