Tuesday, May 6, 2014

Longview #38: Harry Morgan Bridge

IMG_0507 Harry Morgan Bridge in Longview, Washington on December 17, 2005
Harry Morgan Bridge on December 17, 2005.

The first highway bridge built across the Cowlitz River here was the Pioneer Bridge in 1926. The Pioneer Bridge was washed out by the December 1933 flood, and took several years to repair. An all new span was built in 1961 to replace the Pioneer Bridge, which was then demolished with explosives. A second span was added alongside the first in 1974. These two spans are collectively known as the Harry Morgan Bridge. Today they carry State Route 432 over the Burlington Northern-Santa Fe Railway main line and across the Cowlitz River connecting Longview to Interstate 5.

IMG_0508 Harry Morgan Bridge in Longview, Washington on December 17, 2005
Harry Morgan Bridge on December 17, 2005.

This approach to Longview from the Pacific Highway opened in 1963, replacing a narrow underpass beneath the Longview, Portland & Northern Railway yards that led to California Way.

IMG_0510 Harry Morgan Bridge in Longview, Washington on December 17, 2005
Harry Morgan Bridge on December 17, 2005.

Harry Morgan was a former manager of the Hammond Lumber Company’s mill in Garibaldi, Oregon, who was hired by Weyerhaeuser as assistant to Al L. Raught, the first manager of Weyerhaeuser’s Longview mill. He supervised the construction of the mill and later succeeded Raught as manager in 1938. After retiring from Weyerhaeuser in 1954, Morgan served on Washington’s Highways Commission.

IMG_0509 Coweeman River Railroad Bridge in Longview, Washington on December 17, 2005
Coweeman River Railroad Bridge on December 17, 2005.

Adjacent to the Harry Morgan Bridge is this railroad bridge, carrying the Burlington Northern- Santa Fe Railway over the Coweeman River where it joins the Cowlitz River. The railroad bridge is also used by the Union Pacific Railroad and Amtrak.

Continue to 39: Triangle Mall

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