Grand Coulee Bridge, Steel cantilever bridge across Columbia River in Okanogan County, US.
The Grand Coulee Bridge is a steel cantilever structure spanning 325 meters (1,089 feet) across the Columbia River with two concrete support piers anchoring the span. The bridge carries State Route 155, serving as a key link between Douglas and Okanogan counties in central Washington.
Construction began in 1934 to support equipment transport for the Grand Coulee Dam project, employing more than 1,000 workers on-site. The bridge later became a permanent transportation link between the two counties after the dam work concluded.
The bridge spans across a narrow section where the river flows swiftly, and visitors often stop on Route 155 to take photos from the roadside viewing areas. The span has become a familiar landmark for locals traveling between the two counties.
The bridge is accessible via State Route 155, with informal pullout areas along the roadside for viewing and photographing the structure. Visitors can best experience the bridge by stopping along the highway to observe it from nearby vantage points.
During construction, engineers had to stabilize a tilting pier by drilling through bedrock using pneumatic caisson technology. This problem-solving approach ensured the bridge would remain structurally sound for decades to come.
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