The Elegant Bridges of the Oregon Coast

Cape Creek Bridge, near Heceta Head, is one of many bridges along Highway 101 in Oregon. Photographer Patrick Prothe set out to show the timeless design of these iconic coastal bridges, many built in the 1920s and 1930s.

photography by Patrick Prothe

Opened in 1936, the Conde McCullough Memorial Bridge over Coos Bay is 5,305 feet long and 279 feet tall.

OREGON IS A place of water—oceans and rivers and everything in between. The result? Many bridges. Along Highway 101 on the Oregon Coast, the bridges were primarily built in the 1920s and 1930s and most were designed by Conde McCullough, who favored Romanesque arches, gothic spires and Art Deco detailing. Today, they stand as a testament—taming our state’s most wild sections so we can access by vehicle the coast’s many gifts.

Spanning the Columbia River between Oregon and Washington, the Astoria-Megler Bridge is just over 4 miles long and opened in 1966. It is the longest continuous truss bridge in North America. Once a year, pedestrians have the opportunity to cross it during the Great Columbia Crossing race in October.

The Yaquina Bay Bridge in Newport was designed by renowned Oregon bridge designer Conde McCullough. It opened in 1936.