Fred G. Redmon Bridge
The Fred G. Redmon Bridge, also known as the Selah Creek Bridge, is a twin arch bridge in the northwest United States, in Yakima County, Washington. It carries Interstate 82 across Selah Creek near Selah, between Yakima and Ellensburg.
Fred G. Redmon Bridge | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 46.70°N 120.441°W |
Carries | I-82 / US 97 |
Crosses | Selah Creek |
Locale | Yakima County, Washington |
Characteristics | |
Design | Twin arch |
Material | Concrete |
Total length | 1,337 feet (408 m)[1] |
Longest span | 549 feet (167 m)[1] |
No. of spans | 2 |
Clearance below | 325 feet (99 m)[1] |
History | |
Opened | November 2, 1971[1] |
Location | |
Construction
The bridge was opened to traffic on November 2, 1971. It was constructed by Peter Kiewit & Sons,[1] who won the contract with a bid of $4,356,070 (equivalent to about $36,658,000 in 2023).[2][3] The bridge was part of a 2.8-mile (4.5 km) long, $1.7 million (equivalent to $14 million in 2023)[2] segment of the Interstate 82 freeway construction through the area.[4]
At the time it was built, it was the longest concrete arch bridge in the United States,[5][6] surpassed only by the 866-foot (264 m) Sandö Bridge in Sweden. It was also the highest bridge in Washington. It won the 1971 Grand Award "for excellence in the use of concrete", awarded by the Washington Aggregates and Concrete Association.[1]
Namesake
Fred Redmon was a county commissioner[7] and the first chair of the Washington Highway Commission, formed in 1951 to oversee the state's department of highways.[8][9][10] It was named for him prior to its completion.[11]
See also
References
- Long, Priscilla (March 7, 2005). "Fred Redmon Bridge (Selah Creek Bridge) opens on November 2, 1971". HistoryLink. Retrieved September 8, 2008.
- 1634–1699: McCusker, J. J. (1997). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States: Addenda et Corrigenda (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1700–1799: McCusker, J. J. (1992). How Much Is That in Real Money? A Historical Price Index for Use as a Deflator of Money Values in the Economy of the United States (PDF). American Antiquarian Society. 1800–present: Federal Reserve Bank of Minneapolis. "Consumer Price Index (estimate) 1800–". Retrieved May 28, 2023.
- "Selah Creek Bridge". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. September 28, 1968. p. 5.
- "Costly freeway job underway". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. July 7, 1969. p. 6.
- "I-82 to open six months early". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. August 8, 1970. p. 1.
- "Longest span dedicated". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. AP photo. November 13, 1971. p. 9.
- "County heads seeking funds". Spokesman-Review. Spokane, Washington. May 21, 1946. p. 9.
- WSDOT. "WSDOT History (1941–1960)". Archived from the original on October 11, 2008. Retrieved June 16, 2008.
- "Redmon elected head of highway commission". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. Associated Press. July 9, 1951. p. 4.
- "State highway chief to stay on". Spokane Daily Chronicle. Washington. Associated Press. March 17, 1954. p. 6.
- "I-82 construction on its schedule". Ellensburg Daily Record. Washington. September 16, 1970. p. 1.