Rex T. Barber Veterans Memorial Bridge, Arch bridge in Jefferson County, Oregon, United States
The Rex T. Barber Veterans Memorial Bridge is a four-lane concrete arch bridge on US 97 north of Terrebonne. Its deck runs on a 24.1 m wide hollow box girder, while the arch below spans 125 m and sits 91 m above the canyon floor. The total length is 163 m, and the structure was given a colored sealant to fit the gorge setting.
This crossing opened in 2000 and replaced an earlier structure that had served the same canyon location for many decades. The dedication to a local World War II figure came a few years after the new bridge was completed.
The bridge is named for Rex T. Barber (1917–2001), a Jefferson County native and World War II fighter pilot who took part in Operation Vengeance, the 1943 mission that shot down the plane carrying Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto. It was first called the Crooked River Bridge and received Barber's name in 2003. In 2009 US 97 through Oregon was renamed the World War II Veterans Historic Highway.
The bridge carries regular traffic year-round as the primary route across the gorge, so expect steady vehicle movement. Walking access and overlook areas may be available nearby for those wishing to view or photograph the structure.
It was the first bridge in the United States built with the cast-in-place segmental method. The arch was erected from both sides at once using sliding formwork and a cantilever method tied back with temporary stays, and the concrete was sealed with a coloured coating to fit the landscape.
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