Historic Dosewallips Bridge To Be Razed

Sat., May 27, 2000

From Staff

The state will demolish the historic Dosewallips Bridge this summer, after five proposals for recycling the 240-foot steel-truss span fell through.

“We didn’t get one that was feasible,” said Ken Stone, regional environmental manager with the state Department of Transportation. “It’s disappointing, but it is a large bridge and expensive to relocate.”

The bridge is 20 feet wide with a 16-foot vertical clearance - too narrow for today’s trucks. It will be demolished between June 15 and Aug. 15, a timetable designed to protect the river’s fish run.

The state has built a parallel concrete span on U.S. 101 near this Jefferson County community, but had to try to save the 77-year-old original because it was eligible for placement on the National Register of Historic Places.

Five proposals were submitted, but two were withdrawn and the others weren’t considered workable, Stone said. Some bidders had nowhere to put the bridge or money to move it. The state offered $35,000 - estimated demolition costs - to anyone willing to take it.

It’s the third time in four years the state has offered a bridge but found no takers.

Local journalism is essential.

Give directly to The Spokesman-Review's Northwest Passages community forums series -- which helps to offset the costs of several reporter and editor positions at the newspaper -- by using the easy options below. Gifts processed in this system are tax deductible.

Meet Our Journalists

Jesse Tinsley

Meet Jesse Tinsley. As a certified drone pilot, this veteran Spokesman-Review photographer often can be seen capturing beautiful aerial photographs of our region. Sometimes though, the job requires getting down with the dogs.
Jim Meehan

Jim Meehan is no stranger to Zag Nation. As the lead writer covering the Gonzaga men’s basketball team, he tells the stories behind the game and gets fans a bit closer to their favorite players.
Molly Quinn

There is no artist in Spokane like Molly Quinn. Her whimsical style is instantly recognizable to readers of The Spokesman-Review. She has painted gorgeous illustrations that instantly elevate the journalism accompanying it. She brings to life the stories that defy photography. She makes our pages better.
Rob Curley

Spokesman-Review editor Rob Curley loves to talk with people and learn about their lives, whether it's a best-selling author or a stranger he meets downtown on his walk to lunch. It's that inquisitive nature combined with a playful sense of storytelling that helps make our newspaper different than most.