New Youngs Bay Bridge, Vertical-lift road bridge in Astoria, United States

The New Youngs Bay Bridge is a road bridge with a vertical-lift system that crosses Youngs Bay to connect Astoria and Warrenton. The lift mechanism raises the middle section to let tall ships pass underneath when needed.

Construction started in 1963 after state approval and finished with the opening in 1964. It took over the role of a nearby railroad line that had served the area for many decades.

The road bridge replaced a rail crossing for everyday traffic: the parallel railroad trestle, built in 1896 for the Astoria and Columbia River Railway Company, carried trains until 1982 and was dismantled in 1986. Drivers on US 101 now cross where rail and road once ran side by side.

The bridge carries traffic on U.S. Route 101, so expect regular vehicle flow and occasional delays when ships need to pass. The best time to visit with good weather is from late spring through early fall.

The road bridge runs closely parallel to, and just east of, a 1.6-mile (2.6 km) railroad trestle built in 1896 for the Astoria and Columbia River Railway Company. The New Youngs Bay Bridge crossed over the top of that railway bridge near the north river bank. The railroad bridge was last used in 1982 and dismantled in 1986.