By Justin Andress
The Mountain Times
For nearly 10 years, the Still Creek Bridge has been out of commission. But no longer. The Mt. Hood Forest Service has officially commissioned builder Ridge2River Construction to install an updated crossing over the much-traveled Still Creek.
Just a few short months after the contract was awarded, the paperwork is in place and land clearing has begun. Several trees have already been removed from the area in advance of building. The primary construction of the bridge will take place between late June and October. Ideally, the new Still Creek Bridge will be ready for traffic by November 1.
Anyone living in the Mt. Hood area understands the value of connection, not just in terms of the community we build but also in terms of the arteries that connect the Hoodland area to the surrounding world, allowing locals and visitors alike to interact with the gorgeous greenery around us.
Maintaining all the roads is a big job, especially in our neck of the Pacific Northwest, where hundreds of miles of roadways, both major and minor, crisscross an extraordinarily diverse and challenging landscape. It’s no wonder, then, that it can take a while to gather the resources and professionals required for any type of new construction, let alone a strategically challenging structure like a bridge.
In spite of the bridge’s outage, Still Creek is still a popular spot for explorers of the Pacific Northwest. Its annual salmon runs draw visitors from throughout the region, for example. Fortunately, this new construction will take into account the abundant natural splendor of the area and the people who visit.
According to Mt. Hood Forest Service Public Affairs Officer Heather Ibsen, the new bridge will be an improvement in every way. For years, the timber bridge connected Roads 12 and 20. The old bridge was a single-lane timber crossing that stretched 55 feet across Still Creek. It was put out of commission when rot took hold, making it unsafe for both vehicles and pedestrians.
“The new bridge will be constructed with stronger and more resilient materials — steel and concrete — and has a 100+ year life span,” says Ibsen.
The updated Still Creek Bridge will run 110 feet across the river, twice as far as the prior structure. At 19 feet wide, the bridge will accommodate a wide variety of vehicles traveling up and down the mountain. It will even include a safe viewing area with a dedicated sidewalk for pedestrians.
Indeed, Ibsen is quick to speak about the increased safety the bridge will provide to residents of the mountain. “The Still Creek Bridge is within a high-risk area for wildfires and serves as a key access point for firefighters as well as an evacuation route for the local recreation residences and forest visitors.”
In fact, Mt. Hood National Forest received funding to “reduce wildfire risk.” A chunk of that money went to restoring the Still Creek Bridge.
Ibsen’s enthusiasm is contagious. “We’re excited to be able to restore this vehicle access across the creek, improving critical safety during emergencies and added convenience for locals.”
When you have a few moments, be sure to check out the progress they’re making on the Still Creek Bridge. You won’t be disappointed.