A complete tabulation of the bridges designed and constructed is given in another part of this report, and complete descriptions of the more important structures will be found in the articles devoted to the particular counties in which the structures are located.
The $250,000.00 intercounty bridge across the Willamette River at Salem was completed, and has attracted more than local attention. While the cost of this structure was borne by Marion and Polk Counties the design and construction engineering were handled by this Department.
The reinforced concrete arch bridge at Hood River, the largest concrete bridge yet constructed in this State was designed and built under State supervision, although the County also contributed toward its cost.
Among the proposed bridges of considerable magnitude for which county officials have requested designs from this Department may be mentioned the Deschutes and Oregon City. The former will be located between the present toll bridge and the railroad bridge across the Deschutes River and will thus obviate the necessity of toll payments. It will consist of a series of reinforced concrete arches. The Oregon City bridge will replace the old suspension bridge across the Willamette. Studies are being made and comparisons of various types of bridges and locations of site are being made.
During the war period, both for patriotic and economic reasons the employment of steel bridges was discontinued and wooden truss bridges used instead. Now that the demand for steel for war purposes has subsided, and there are indications of a decline in the price of structural steel in the near future, the resumption of use of that material in the construction of bridges will probably be more general.
ELIMINATION OF GRADE CROSSINGS
The Department is working consistently for the elimination of dangerous grade crossings. No less than ten grade crossings have been done away with as far as through traffic on State Roads is concerned, during the past two years. Most of these eliminations have been brought about by holding roads on the same side of railway tracks instead of crossing over and back. Two of the eliminations, however, were brought about by grade separations; one near Rex in Washington County and another near Ashland in Jackson County, both of these grade separations being undercrossings.
An agreement was also reached whereby a reinforced concrete overhead crossing will be constructed to eliminate a very dangerous grade crossing on the Pacific Highway near Divide, in Lane County. This structure would have been built in 1918, but on account of the requirements of material for war purposes, the United States Highway Council ordered the construction delayed. It will undoubtedly be constructed during the 1919 season.
FEDERAL CO-OPERATION
In 1916, the United States Congress enacted a law making available $85,000,000.00 of Federal Government moneys for co-operation with the several States in the construction and improvement of roads. Of this amount, $75,000,000.00 is appropriated for co-operation on “Post Roads,” roads over which either rural or star post routes are operated, and $10,000,000.00 is appropriated for co-operation on “Forest Roads,” roads within or partly within National Forests.