The bridges at Crooked River Gorge

Crooked River Gorge is a deep, narrow canyon that inhibited travel and settlement in this area; until a railroad bridge was built across the gorge, the only way past this gorge was to go around – and the nearest ford was miles away.

In 1910, this railroad bridge was built across the gorge:

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This is so "Western" looking a place that you almost expect the posse to ride around the corner and thru the gorge:

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In 1926, this road bridge was built as part of US 97:

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When it was built, this was the highest single-arch bridge built in the US.

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For over 7o years, the green bridge above carried motor traffic, but as traffic volumes grew, the bridge became a choke-point on the highway, and this veteran was replaced in 2000 by a new bridge:

All of these bridges are still in use; trains run over the rail bridge (102 years old). The "old" green bridge is not a highway bridge any more, but it is open to walkers and bike riders. The red bridge is the newest bridge here; it carries four lanes of traffic across the gorge.

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Looking down from the green bridge inspires vertigo:

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The tree in the lower center of this picture is over 80 feet tall….

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"The West"

Crooked River Gorge: easy to drive across now and almost as easy to pass; if you have a chance, stop here..

. and keep your dog on the leash.

 

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