Conde B. McCullough and Upper Perry Arch Bridge

Arriving in Oregon in 1916 with innovative ideas about building bridges to support a well-planned highway system, Conde B. McCullough became Oregon's State Bridge Engineer in 1919. He was instrumental in designing site-specific bridges with elegant arches and soaring heights, and he promoted the idea that architectural features and scenic considerations should factor into the selection of bridge type and that a bridge plainly visible in side elevation should have a pleasing profile. McCullough believed that well-maintained highways with pleasing bridges drew more tourists, increasing the consumption of goods and services and contributing to important gasoline tax receipts. Maintenance of the Upper Perry Arch Bridge decreased after nearby Interstate 84 bridges were constructed in the 1960s, and over time freeze-thaw cycles caused concrete deterioration along much of the structure, forcing severe limits on the bridge's weight capacity. Although the Oregon Department of Transportation considered replacing the bridge, its historical significance led to its rehabilitation instead, preserving one of two single arch bridges in eastern Oregon. Work began in 2008 and was completed a year later.

Oregon · United States