Less than a half mile downstream of The Dalles Dam is The Dalles Bridge, connecting The Dalles, Oregon, with Dallesport and Murdock in Washington State. The 3,339’ long steel truss cantilever bridge was completed in 1953. The Dalles Bridge is one of two cantilever bridges built in Washington State during the 1950’s.

The cost of construction was $2.4 million (equivalent to $84.42 million in 2022). Wasco County, Oregon officials financed the bridge by issuing bonds to be repaid with tolls. The bridge was a toll bridge until 1974 at which point the bridge was paid off.

The average daily traffic on the bridge is nearly 8,400. The Dalles Bridge (US 197) connects Washington State Route 14 with Interstate 84 and US 30 on the Oregon side of the Columbia River. Thus, making an important gateway to both Oregon and Washington.

In 2023 the bridge rail and guard rail were replaced to meet current highway standards and crash codes. The original concrete posts were replaced with steel beam posts and 3-line tube steel railing pieces. Each section of 3 tube railing is different due to needing to not interfere with original truss members and rivets. Over weekends long sections of bridge decking were replaced with new concrete decking and the accompanying duplex coated steel tube rail and posts. Tube lengths had to match the differing concrete deck lengths. Presenting a greater design challenge for the fabricator. The cost of this upgrade was $41 million shared 50/50 between Oregon and Washington.

The newly galvanized and powder coated steel posts and rails were chosen due to the harsh climate that The Dalles Bridge is exposed to. Winters are extremely cold, and summers are extremely hot with high winds throughout the year blowing down the Columbia Gorge and river. The Dalles receives annual average rainfall of 14” and annual average snowfall of 15” creating a great need for corrosion protection. The duplex coating selected will ensure a maintenance free lifespan of 50-75 years.