Beverly Railroad Bridge

Bridge in Beverly, Washington

46°49′52″N 119°56′53″W / 46.8311°N 119.948°W / 46.8311; -119.948Carrieshikers, pedestrians, and cyclists (formerly: trains)CrossesColumbia RiverLocaleBeverly, WashingtonOther name(s)Milwaukee Road Columbia River BridgeHeritage statusNRHPCharacteristicsDesignWarren deck trusses, Parker through truss (main span), and deck plate girders (approaches)MaterialSteelHistoryConstruction end1909Rebuilt2019–2022

U.S. National Register of Historic Places

LocationCrosses the Columbia River, Grant / Kittitas counties, WashingtonNearest cityBeverly, WashingtonCoordinates46°49′52″N 119°56′54″W / 46.83111°N 119.94833°W / 46.83111; -119.94833Built1909ArchitectPennsylvania Steel CompanyArchitectural styleWarren deck truss, Parker through trussMPSHistoric Bridges/Tunnels in Washington State TRNRHP reference No.82004214Added to NRHPJuly 16, 1982 Location Map

The Beverly Railroad Bridge is a historic railroad bridge that now carries hikers, bicyclists, and pedestrians over the Columbia River near Beverly, Washington, United States. It was constructed by the Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad (otherwise known as The Milwaukee Road) in 1909 during its Pacific Extension. In 1906, The Milwaukee Road began construction on its transcontinental rail line from Chicago, Illinois to Tacoma, Washington, which was completed three years later.

The bridge was built on concrete piers 85 feet (25.9 m) above the Columbia River to provide clearance for any river traffic. The spans include 14 Warren deck trusses, one Parker through truss, and deck plate girders on the approaches.^[1] When the railroad electrified in the 1920s, supports for the catenary were added to the bridge.

When the railroad ceased using electric locomotives in 1972, the catenary was removed, but the supports were kept in place.

After the railroad went bankrupt in the mid-1970s and abandoned its lines in the Pacific Northwest in 1980, the bridge and adjoining right-of-way were taken over by the State of Washington in lieu of back taxes owed by the railroad.

The bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1982 because of its association with The Milwaukee Road.^[2]

The bridge is on the route of the Palouse to Cascades State Park Trail, which follows the Milwaukee Road right-of-way across Washington. The bridge was extensively renovated, and re-opened for trail use in April 2022.^[3] One construction worker died during the rehabilitation project from a fall.^[4]

Notes

^ Lisa Soderberg, Beverly Railroad Bridge, HAER Inventory, U.S. Department of the Interior, 1979.
^ Lisa Soderberg, Historic Bridges and Tunnels in Washington State Thematic Resources, National Register of Historic Places Inventory-Nomination Form, 1982.
^ "Washington's Longest Bike Trail to Get Huge Boost in 2022 with Opening of Bridge Over Columbia River". December 9, 2021. Retrieved January 7, 2022.
^ Banse, Tom (April 12, 2022). "Riding or hiking across Washington state just got easier with new bridge over Columbia River". KUOW. Retrieved April 13, 2022.

References

Soderberg, Lisa. Beverly Railroad Bridge. HAER Inventory, Historic American Engineering Record. Washington, D.C.: U.S. Department of the Interior, 1979.
Soderberg, Lisa. Historic Bridges and Tunnels in Washington State Thematic Resources. National Register of Historic Places Inventory - Nomination Form. On file at the National Park Service, Washington DC.