Today is the 83rd birthday of the Vantage Bridge over the Columbia River. It wasn't the first or the longest or highest bridge over the river, but still probably the most important next to the Interstate Bridge between Portland and Vancouver. It allowed for a relatively straight route to Spokane from Seattle. The previously routes required travellers to either head south from Ellensburg into the vast Yakima Valley and cross the river at the Tri-Cities and then head east to Colfax and north to Spokane from there. Or later from Ellensburg over old Blewett Pass and its 248 some odd curves to Wenatchee and then east to Spokane. But with the opening of the Vantage Bridge a straight shot as it where, was created from Seattle to Spokane. Straight once you got to North Bend that is, it wasn't a true straight shot until the completion of the first floating bridge. The town of Vantage would grow up around the base of the bridge, until the creation of Wanapum Dam, when the old bridge and town had to be moved. Vantage was moved up the hillside and the Vantage Bridge was moved to Lyons Ferry on the Snake River. Tonight's photo is old US 10, running west toward Ellensburg from the old Vantage town site.
Wednesday, September 8, 2010
The Vantage Bridge
Today is the 83rd birthday of the Vantage Bridge over the Columbia River. It wasn't the first or the longest or highest bridge over the river, but still probably the most important next to the Interstate Bridge between Portland and Vancouver. It allowed for a relatively straight route to Spokane from Seattle. The previously routes required travellers to either head south from Ellensburg into the vast Yakima Valley and cross the river at the Tri-Cities and then head east to Colfax and north to Spokane from there. Or later from Ellensburg over old Blewett Pass and its 248 some odd curves to Wenatchee and then east to Spokane. But with the opening of the Vantage Bridge a straight shot as it where, was created from Seattle to Spokane. Straight once you got to North Bend that is, it wasn't a true straight shot until the completion of the first floating bridge. The town of Vantage would grow up around the base of the bridge, until the creation of Wanapum Dam, when the old bridge and town had to be moved. Vantage was moved up the hillside and the Vantage Bridge was moved to Lyons Ferry on the Snake River. Tonight's photo is old US 10, running west toward Ellensburg from the old Vantage town site.
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