The Goldendale Sentinel, Goldendale, WA., October 8, 1931, page 6

PLANS TO REMODEL BRIDGE AT WISHRAM

     The following article is from a recent issue of the Oregon Journal, the contents of which we are given to understand are well founded, although at present the progress of such an undertaking must be necessarily very slow. Parent and holding companies all have a say in matters of this sort, but when fully advised and their consent given, this addition to the present railroad bridge across the Columbia river at Wishram, may proceed quickly. It is a sure thing the railroad company is making little revenue out of their bridge, which it is adequate for many times the present purpose. To participate in any revenue arising from the additional structure for toll bridge purposes, should be most welcome to their coffers these skimpy times for the railroad. Following is the story:
     For many years it has been the desire of residents of the upper Columbia country for bridge connections between Washington and Oregon. The latest development is the recent announcement of negotiations now pending for the use of the railroad bridge at Wishram. The proposed plan would enable this bridge to be used for both rail and vehicle traffic without any grade crossing or interference by the two classes of traffic.
    The Wishram bridge owned by the Oregon Trunk Railway Company is one of the strongest and best built bridges spanning the Columbia. Until now it has been impractical to use because of the lack of road connections on the Washington side.
     With the opening of the Satus road and the early completion of the North Bank highway between Maryhill and Vancouver, this location is now available. The Evergreen highway is in fairly good shape at this time between Maryhill and Wishram, the county had built a standard road to the town. The location of the Wishram bridge forms a crossroads between the Columbia highway, the Evergreen highway and The Dalles-California highway, making it a crossroads for any traffic, and as such would occupy a strategic location.
     The altering of the present bridge will not require any great outlay and would be of great value to Goldendale, The Dalles, and the entire Mid-Colombia country.
     Located over Celilo Falls it would make this a scenic attraction of no small value. Negotiations for this change have been going on for several months and all preliminary engineering has now been completed. It is expected that owing to the small amount of construction necessary that this can be completed during the coming winter and the bridge opened for traffic early next year.

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©  Jeffrey L. Elmer