The Vantage Bridge is a bridge in the U.S. state of Washington. It carries Interstate 90 across the Columbia River, near Vantage and George, Washington. This section of the river is named Wanapum Lake; it is the reservoir formed by Wanapum Dam. The bridge separates the Ginkgo Petrified Forest and Wanapum Recreational Area State Park on the western bank of the Columbia.

Vantage Bridge
Coordinates46°56′37″N 119°58′02″W / 46.94361°N 119.96722°W / 46.94361; -119.96722
Carries I-90
CrossesColumbia River
LocaleVantage, Washington
Maintained byWashington State DOT
ID number0006533A0000000
Characteristics
DesignThrough arch bridge
Total length2,504 ft (763.2 m)[1]
Height22.9 m (75 ft)[citation needed]
Longest span160 m (520 ft)
History
Construction end1962
DedicatedNovember 9, 1962
Statistics
Daily traffic11,916 (2002)
Location
Map

The current bridge is the second Vantage Bridge. The first was built in 1927 as part of the Sunset Highway (later US 10), a precursor to I-90. In 1962 the second bridge was built because the reservoir pool backing up behind the new Wanapum Dam would soon overwhelm the old bridge; it was dedicated by the state on November 9, 1962.[2] The first bridge was dismantled for reuse. The steel cantilever truss was reused for the Lyons Ferry Bridge, which opened in 1968 to carry SR 261 across the Snake River.[3]

The bridge deck is scheduled to be replaced between 2024 and 2027 with seasonal lane closures. It is the first major overhaul since 1982.[4]

References

edit
  1. ^ "Bridge List M 23-09" (PDF). Washington State Department of Transportation. June 2011. p. 191. Retrieved March 13, 2013.
  2. ^ "State Dedicates Vantage Bridge". The Seattle Times. Associated Press. November 9, 1962. p. 5.
  3. ^ Dorpat, Paul; Genevieve McCoy (1998). Building Washington: A History of Washington State Public Works. Tartu Publications. p. 114. ISBN 0-9614357-9-8.
  4. ^ "Work to replace I-90 Vantage Bridge deck set to get underway" (Press release). Washington State Department of Transportation. March 11, 2024. Retrieved March 13, 2024.
edit