ASTORIA-MEGLER BRIDGE INSPECTION

The Astoria-Megler Bridge crosses the Columbia River just inland from the Pacific Ocean, carrying US Route 101 between Astoria, Oregon and Megler, Washington.  The bridge was built in the mid 1960’s and was the last completed segment of US-101 between Los Angeles, CA and Olympia, WA.

This bridge is enormous at  4.1 miles in total length with multibeam spans, deck truss spans, simple through truss spans, and the longest continuous through truss in the nation.  The main channel span, close to the Astoria side, is 1,232 feet long with a navigational clearance of about 200 feet.

This bridge has been featured in many films, such as Kindergarten Cop, Free Willy, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles III, The Goonies, and Short Circuit.

FIT was hired by Burgess & Niple to assist in the fracture critical inspections of the continuous through truss spans and the deck spans on the Astoria side.  Rope access and fall protection techniques were used to gain hands-on access to the structural elements without the need for lane closures and lift equipment.