The Old Wenatchee-East Wenatchee Bridge

The Old Wenatchee-East Wenatchee Bridge is the oldest highway bridge across the mid and lower Columbia River. The bridge was opened to traffic in 1908 to carry an irrigation pipeline as well as a roadway across the Columbia. Originally built as a privately owned bridge, it was purchased by the state to become part of the Sunset Highway, State Road (later PSH) 2. in 1926, the bridge became part of US 10. In 1940, US 10 was shifted to the corridor now served by I-90. The highway across the Wenatchee-East Wenatchee Bridge was redesignated Alternate US 10. In 1948, the route number was changed to US 2.

A new 4 lane US 2 bridge was opened to traffic about half a mile downstream from the old bridge in 1950. Access to the 1908 bridge was restricted to the pipeline maintenance crews. The approach spans on the Wenatchee end were replaced by a stairway. In the 1990s, the downstream side of the bridge was opened to the public as a pedestrian-bicycle path. A ramp replaced the stairway on the Wenatchee end of the bridge.

The photo was taken in Summer 2000 from the East Wenatchee end of the bridge.