4 ms·

Oregon’s distinctive bridge style is Conde McCullough’s legacy (2011)

57 points by Lammy 5y ago

edoceo 5y ago
The one in Coos Bay is worth the trip - if you're into bridges and driving a long way. (101 from WA south until about Point Reyes is really quite beautiful.)
- intelmefan 5y ago
  It’s in North Bend actually.
  - edoceo 5y ago
    Actually, the bridge is literally *in* and over the water called Coos Bay.
    - brewdad 5y ago
      In the city of North Bend. For anyone thinking of visiting, the city of North Bend is nowhere near the better-known city of Bend in Oregon. In fact, North Bend is south (and way, way west) of Bend.
webwielder2 5y ago
I never considered that there might be a specific origin of the expression, “if you believe that, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.”
- ncmncm 5y ago
  That is about the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC, often "sold" to tourists hoping to charge toll. In Hawaii, they say instead "I've got some land on the Big Island", often actually owned, and commonly a bare lava field. People do build on them, and truck in soil for plantings. The result can be beautiful, often suggesting an oasis.
  - deleted 5y ago
    [deleted]
- neilv 5y ago
  Thanks for drawing my attention to this bit I missed on the first glance: > In those years before the First World War, Americans were clamoring for better roads, and a cadre of slick characters was diligently trying to turn that desire into profits by barnstorming the country pitching “patented” bridge projects to county commissions and city councils. Frequently they’d sell a design that they had a dubious patent on to politicians with no clue about engineering, then install it whether it worked on the site or not. Some of these bridges failed in a matter of months as floodwaters washed out their footings; for others, the adaptations necessary to make them work cost more than the bridge itself. One Iowa bridge that crossed a county line turned out to have been fully paid for twice — each county had gotten, and paid, the full bill.
UncleOxidant 5y ago
The St. Johns Bridge in Portland is also quite beautiful, but was designed by David B. Steinman, though McCullough put in a bid for the project as well. The St Johns is my favorite Oregon bridge (though McCullough's Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport is a very close 2nd). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johns_Bridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johns_Bridge See also this article for the competition between Steinman and McCollough and some insights into ODOT Green: https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-bridges-green-paint-history/ https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-bridges-green-paint-... (I believe there is an error in that article in the caption for the picture of the Astoria-Meglar bridge which they say was designed by McCollough - but it was built in 1966, much too late. Wikipedia says it was designed by ODOT/WDOT which is much more likely, I don't think McCollough would design something so ugly) The Astoria-Megler bridge is probably the ugliest bridge in Oregon (in addition to just looking kind of flimsy). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria%E2%80%93Megler_Bridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria%E2%80%93Megler_Bridge
- fisherjeff 5y ago
  Have you seen the ENORMOUS lego model of the St. John’s bridge at PDX? Incredible EDIT - link: https://pdxart.portofportland.online/2020/08/10/impressive-st-johns-bridge-by-portland-lego-artist-erik-mattson-at-pdx/ https://pdxart.portofportland.online/2020/08/10/impressive-s...
pmdulaney 5y ago
The bridge at Big Sur strikes me as being in the same style.

57 points by Lammy 5y ago

The one in Coos Bay is worth the trip - if you're into bridges and driving a long way. (101 from WA south until about Point Reyes is really quite beautiful.)

intelmefan 5y ago
It’s in North Bend actually.
- edoceo 5y ago
  Actually, the bridge is literally *in* and over the water called Coos Bay.
  - brewdad 5y ago
    In the city of North Bend. For anyone thinking of visiting, the city of North Bend is nowhere near the better-known city of Bend in Oregon. In fact, North Bend is south (and way, way west) of Bend.

webwielder2 5y ago

I never considered that there might be a specific origin of the expression, “if you believe that, I’ve got a bridge to sell you.”

ncmncm 5y ago
That is about the Brooklyn Bridge in NYC, often "sold" to tourists hoping to charge toll. In Hawaii, they say instead "I've got some land on the Big Island", often actually owned, and commonly a bare lava field. People do build on them, and truck in soil for plantings. The result can be beautiful, often suggesting an oasis.
- deleted 5y ago
  [deleted]
neilv 5y ago
Thanks for drawing my attention to this bit I missed on the first glance: > In those years before the First World War, Americans were clamoring for better roads, and a cadre of slick characters was diligently trying to turn that desire into profits by barnstorming the country pitching “patented” bridge projects to county commissions and city councils. Frequently they’d sell a design that they had a dubious patent on to politicians with no clue about engineering, then install it whether it worked on the site or not. Some of these bridges failed in a matter of months as floodwaters washed out their footings; for others, the adaptations necessary to make them work cost more than the bridge itself. One Iowa bridge that crossed a county line turned out to have been fully paid for twice — each county had gotten, and paid, the full bill.

UncleOxidant 5y ago

The St. Johns Bridge in Portland is also quite beautiful, but was designed by David B. Steinman, though McCullough put in a bid for the project as well. The St Johns is my favorite Oregon bridge (though McCullough's Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport is a very close 2nd). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johns_Bridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/St._Johns_Bridge See also this article for the competition between Steinman and McCollough and some insights into ODOT Green: https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-bridges-green-paint-history/ https://www.opb.org/news/article/oregon-bridges-green-paint-... (I believe there is an error in that article in the caption for the picture of the Astoria-Meglar bridge which they say was designed by McCollough - but it was built in 1966, much too late. Wikipedia says it was designed by ODOT/WDOT which is much more likely, I don't think McCollough would design something so ugly) The Astoria-Megler bridge is probably the ugliest bridge in Oregon (in addition to just looking kind of flimsy). https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria%E2%80%93Megler_Bridge https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Astoria%E2%80%93Megler_Bridge

fisherjeff 5y ago
Have you seen the ENORMOUS lego model of the St. John’s bridge at PDX? Incredible EDIT - link: https://pdxart.portofportland.online/2020/08/10/impressive-st-johns-bridge-by-portland-lego-artist-erik-mattson-at-pdx/ https://pdxart.portofportland.online/2020/08/10/impressive-s...

pmdulaney 5y ago

The bridge at Big Sur strikes me as being in the same style.