Bridge of the Gods, Steel cantilever bridge in Cascade Locks, United States.
The Bridge of the Gods is a steel cantilever bridge connecting Oregon to Washington across the Columbia River with a span of 565 meters. The roadway sits 41 meters above the water level and rests on a framework of welded steel beams.
Construction took place in 1926 as a toll crossing at one of the narrowest points in the gorge. Just under twelve years later the impoundment caused by Bonneville Dam required raising the roadway by several meters.
The Pacific Crest Trail uses this crossing as its lowest point along the entire route from the Mexican to the Canadian border. Hikers on the long-distance path regularly encounter car traffic here and briefly leave the wilderness of the mountain range.
The crossing connects Interstate 84 on the south side to State Route 14 on the north side and requires a toll fee. Cash and credit cards are accepted at the payment station while pedestrians and cyclists are also allowed to use the structure.
Charles Lindbergh flew the Spirit of St Louis through a turn below the structure in September 1927. The maneuver took place shortly after completion of the crossing and demonstrated the flight clearance above the river.
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