Historic Bridges: Pierce County, Washington

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11th Street Bridge
HSR

11th Street (WA-509) Over Puyallup Waterway in Tacoma: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal 7 Panel Rivet-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal Deck Girder, Fixed

Length: 2,760 ft. Main Span: 161 ft. Roadway: 24 ft. Main Spans: 3

Built 1930 By: Unknown

This is a vertical lift bridge that had its towers removed as well as all machinery turning it into a fixed truss bridge.

Chambers Bay Railroad Bridge
Bridge 14
HSR

Railroad (BNSF) Over Chambers Bay (Steilacoom Creek) in Steilacoom: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal 4 Panel Rivet-Connected Pratt Full-Slope Pony Truss, Movable: Vertical Lift (Direct Lift)

Length: 240 ft. Main Span: 96 ft. Main Spans: 1

Built 1914 By: American Bridge Company of New York, New York and Strauss Bascule Bridge Company (Strauss Engineering Company) of Chicago, Illinois

This blend of bascule and lift technologies is the only surviving example of the unique patented Strauss direct lift bridge in the country!

Foothills Trail Bridge
HSR

Railroad (Foothills Trail Rail-Trail) Over Puyallup River in Rural: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal 6 Panel Pin-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Fixed

Main Span: 150 ft. Main Spans: 1

Built 1905 By: Unknown

This metal truss railroad bridge provides an excellent compare and contrast opportunity as it sits next to a rare concrete truss highway bridge.

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George Milroy Bridge
HSR

66th Avenue Over Puyallup River in Fife: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal 14 Panel Rivet-Connected Pennsylvania Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal Stringer (Multi-Beam), Fixed

Length: 345 ft. Main Span: 308 ft. Roadway: 20 ft. Main Spans: 1

Built 1931 By: Hart Construction Company of Tacoma, Washington

This attractive truss bridge is noted for its span length yet is at risk for demolition and replacement!

Lincoln Avenue Bridge
HSR

Lincoln Avenue Over Puyallup River in Tacoma: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal 8 Panel Rivet-Connected Warren Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal Stringer (Multi-Beam), Fixed

Length: 466 ft. Main Span: 170 ft. Roadway: 30 ft. Main Spans: 3

Built 1929 By: Unknown

This bridge is unusual because each of its three spans is slightly different in length and as a result the members on each span also differ.

McMillin Bridge
HSR

WA-162 Over Puyallup River in Rural: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Concrete 10 Panel Pratt Pony Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Concrete T-Beam, Fixed

Length: 210 ft. Main Span: 170 ft. Roadway: 22 ft. Main Spans: 1

Built 1934 By: Dolph Jones of Tacoma, Washington and W. H. Witt Company of Seattle, Washington and Homer M. Hadley

One of the most unique bridges in the country, this record-breaking bridge is the most unique of only a few concrete trusses in the country.

Meridian Street Bridge
SR-167 Puyallup River Bridge
HSR

Meridian Street (WA-167) Over Puyallup River in Puyallup: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal 14 Panel Rivet-Connected Turner-Warren Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Wood Stringer (Multi-Beam), Fixed

Length: 477 ft. Main Span: 371 ft. Roadway: 21 ft. Main Spans: 1

Built 1925 By: Puget Sound Bridge and Dredging Company of Seattle, Washington and Maury M. Caldwell

This unique bridge is not a true Turner truss, but is the only known surviving bridge with a configuration similar to a Turner truss.

Murray Morgan Bridge
11th Street Bridge
HSR

11th Street Over City Waterway (Thea Foss Waterway) in Tacoma: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal 8 Panel Rivet-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Movable: Vertical Lift (Span Drive) and Approach Spans: Metal 7 Panel Rivet-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Fixed

Length: 1,748 ft. Main Span: 34 ft. Roadway: 34 ft. Main Spans: 1

Built 1911 By: American Bridge Company of New York, New York and Waddell and Harrington of Kansas City, Missouri

This large vertical lift bridge on a 4 percent grade was rehabilitated and is a major preservation success story.

Purdy Bridge
HSR

WA-302 Over Henderson Bay (Burley Lagoon) in Rural: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Concrete Continuous Box Beam, Fixed

Length: 550 ft. Main Span: 190 ft. Roadway: 20 ft. Main Spans: 5

Built 1936 By: Portland Dredging Company of Portland, Oregon and W. H. Witt Company of Seattle, Washington and Homer M. Hadley

This strikingly plain bridge that looks newer than it is was found to be historic since it was one of the first of a type that later became more common.

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Puyallup Avenue Bridge
Puyallup River Bridge
HSR

Puyallup Avenue (Eells Street, Pacific Highway) Over Puyallup River and Various Roads and Railroads in Tacoma: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal 14 Panel Rivet-Connected Pennsylvania Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal 10 Panel Rivet-Connected Baltimore Through Truss, Fixed

Length: 2,833 ft. Main Span: 252 ft. Roadway: 36 ft. Main Spans: 5

Built 1927 By: Grant Smith and Company of Seattle, Washington and Washington Department of Highways

This long bridge with its variety of span designs including some very unique skewed river spans, is to be reduced to scrap metal.

Puyallup River BNSF Railroad Bridge
HSR

Railroad (BNSF) Over Puyallup River in Tacoma: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal 6 Panel Rivet-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Metal Through Girder, Fixed

Length: 400 ft. Main Span: 130 ft. Main Spans: 2

Built By: Unknown

One of a couple traditional railroad bridges on this section of river.

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Sumner Bridge
Bridge Street Bridge
HSR

Bridge Street Over White River (Stuck River) in Sumner: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal 10 Panel Rivet-Connected Parker Through Truss, Fixed and Approach Spans: Concrete T-Beam, Fixed

Length: 360 ft. Main Span: 220 ft. Roadway: 20 ft. Main Spans: 1

Built 1927 By: Unknown

This historic bridge forms an attractive landmark and gateway for a community, but that the city thinks a modern concrete slab would look nicer.

Tacoma Narrows Bridge
Sturdy Gertie
HSR

WA-16 Westbound Over Tacoma Narrows in Tacoma: Pierce County, Washington, United States

Metal Deck Truss Stiffening Warren Wire Cable Suspension, Fixed and Approach Spans: Concrete T-Beam, Fixed

Length: 5,978 ft. Main Span: 2,800 ft. Roadway: 46.3 ft. Main Spans: 3

Built 1950 By: Bethlehem Pacific Coast Steel Company and Charles E. Andrew and Dexter R. Smith

This bridge replaced the infamous Galloping Gertie bridge which collapsed, and both bridges are discussed on this page.

Historic Bridges: Pierce County, Washington

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