Rainier #28: Nice Creek Viaduct

Nice Creek Viaduct on September 5, 2005.

This concrete viaduct that carries C Street over Nice Creek is simply called the C Street Bridge by most people. However, it is officially called the Nice Creek Viaduct; and unlike the Moeck House, there's no excuse to not call the viaduct by its correct name, as the name is cast right into the concrete at each end. Granted, its hard to read when you're driving by in your car.

Nice Creek Viaduct on September 5, 2005.

The Nice Creek Viaduct was designed by Orrin Backus and built in 1911 for Columbia County by the LeDoux Ehrman Company. That information is also cast into the concrete at each end. The Nice Creek Viaduct consists of six 40-foot reinforced concrete deck girder spans and is now the oldest existing unaltered reinforced concrete girder bridge in Oregon. Though it was probably thought to be plenty wide enough in 1911, it is very narrow by today's standards and is only considered to have one lane, though you can drive either way on it. Fortunately, C Street isn't very busy. The chain link is a recent addition, for the safety of people daring enough to walk across the viaduct, but the iron pipe handrails are original. Because it is so narrow, it is unnerving to have cars pass you while walking on it. It's hard to believe that at one time this was the highway.

Nice Creek Viaduct on February 25, 2011.

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