Route 101

Thanks to all. Went over the bridge today with our 5er without any problems. I enjoyed it and the scenery was beautiful. Love this area.

I also have a love-hate relationship with that bridge and I still love to go across it because of the things you see. The last time I went over,two days after the Tsunami,they were forecasting 75 mph winds and there was not a riffle on the water all the way over. Halfway across we saw two Bald Eagles in the middle of the river. One was on a piling and the other was walking on a sand bar. Huh ????? A sandbar in the middle of the Columbia that is exposed at a very low tide. Have a good trip. There are some very good places to eat and a couple of goood breweries. Good beer at Rogue and Fort George and my favorite places to eat are the Rogue brewery and Bridgewater Bistro.

A different view of the bridge, via ODOT

I suspect that an earthquake capable of damaging that bridge would cause a lot of other problems in the area.

40 minutes — That’s how long Astoria may have to escape tsunami

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For those in Astoria hoping to escape the tsunami or flooding, heading to high ground is your best bet, he said.

It’s not the best idea to think about getting out of town,” he said. “Regardless of the dam or the tsunami, the bridges in the area will probably fail in an earthquake. Slides are going to happen.”

According to the state DOTs, painting to protect the steel is their biggest concern. The only earthquake concern I can find is about the concrete approach span on the Oregon side. The tall steel structure will sway a lot, but is probably more resilient than many other bridges in the two states.

Last fall high winds closed the bridge for a while. http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26460463/srt/pa/pging/1/page/1.cfm

http://photos.oregonlive.com/oregonian/2012/10/astoria-megler_bridge_closure_1.html

http://www.rv.net/forum/index.cfm/fuseaction/thread/tid/26536674/gotomsg/26537033.cfm#26537033
Also highwinds tipped a semi in Novemeber.

This bridge seems to freak people out. Maybe I'm missing something here: neither of us has ever had that problem in the many times we've crossed it, often pulling our TT. To each his own I guess. Still, it's hard for me to understand how it freaks anybody out.

My advice: just cross the bridge and enjoy your journey.

I have no problem with it...but my wife hates it.
NOTE: Have you ever been in a 'real' earthquake? This bridge is in prime earthquake country and would not do well.

This bridge seems to freak people out. Maybe I'm missing something here: neither of us has ever had that problem in the many times we've crossed it, often pulling our TT. To each his own I guess. Still, it's hard for me to understand how it freaks anybody out.

My advice: just cross the bridge and enjoy your journey.

I HATE that bridge, it totally psychs me out! We've been over it a couple of dozen times, and we've never had a problem so go figure.

The only other bridge that made me anxious was the I-10 bridge over the Mississippi river at Baton Rouge LA.

Over all length is 4 miles. The tall cantilever truss part is about half a mile long, with the approaches adding another half.

Yes, big rig friendly. No toll.

The Bridge is a long one... over a mile long and scary (my wife hates it).
We went over it 3 days ago with our rig. They are working on it and there are sometimes long delays...one lane. We had to sit for 15 minutes probably 500 feet above the Columbia River. (my wife freaking the whole time.)
It is not a toll bridge...
Have a good trip.