Columbia River Bridge in Oregon

Photo by OCVA, posted on flickr

This bridge connects Port Ellice, Washington with Astoria, Oregon at the mouth of the Columbia River. It is four miles long and contains the longest continuous truss of any bridge in the USA. Built on a storm-prone coast, it is designed to withstand a lot of natural force, including gusts of wind of more than 150 mph and a flood season river current of 9 mph, enough to carry large trees downstream.

The Astoria Bridge was begun in 1962 and opened in 1966. It replaced ferry service that originally began in 1921. According to Visitor Information Astoria, far more traffic crossed than had been predicted. The tolls were paid off two years early and removed in 1993. A time-saving link in the Mexico to Canada highway system, the bridge is also a scenic showcase for motorists.