Built in 1929, the West Cashmere Bridge originally served to connect orchardists on the north bank of the agricultural community to the small town of Cashmere on the south bank of the Wenatchee River. The bridge, commonly called the Goodwin Bridge by locals, was an important channel for goods being shipped out of Cashmere via the railroad line or Sunset Highway, one of the original primary automobile roads in Washington.
Today, the bridge is slated for replacement. Chelan County has determined the 91-year-old structure is a fracture-critical bridge that is functionally obsolete and structurally deficient. It is currently posted for both weight and height restrictions, restricting most freight haulers, school buses, local transit buses and some emergency vehicles from using it. In fact, county engineers predict the bridge may be closed by 2022 because of its progressive deterioration. Construction on a new bridge will begin in 2020, and the project will cost $25.5 million.
Historical Significance & Condition:
Most people don’t know that three different types of bridges were utilized in the design of the West Cashmere Bridge. Beginning at the south approach: A 34-foot, 6-inch reinforced concrete girder span; an 82-foot through steel riveted plate girder span over future railroad tracks that were never installed; two 117-foot riveted steel Warren deck truss spans with verticals over the Wenatchee River; and three variable length (each about 35 feet long), reinforced concrete girder spans at the north approach. The curb-to-curb roadway width of the bridge is 20 feet.
The most significant segments of the bridge are its two 117-foot riveted steel Warren deck truss spans with verticals. While a small number of Warren through trusses remain, the number of Warren deck trusses is rare in Washington. Warren trusses became popular in the late 1930s; so Warren trusses built before the 1930s are substantially more significant than those built later due to their rarity. In addition, this was about the era when heavy standard steel-rolled sections were being introduced into the design of the truss members. The West Cashmere Bridge is one of the last bridges standing that uses truss members fabricated via the “build-up” method of light-rolled steel sections with tie plates and lacings.
The bridge was designed by Maury M. Caldwell, who designed other notable bridges throughout the state. In 1922, Caldwell designed the Pasco-Kennewick Bridge, a 1,410-foot steel cantilever structure that crossed the Columbia River. Henry Hagman built the local bridge as well as many other bridges throughout the Pacific Northwest. In 1931, Hagman built the nearby Monitor Bridge, a concrete arch bridge that crosses the Wenatchee River at Main Street.
To ensure the history of the bridge is preserved, the county contracted with HistoryLink, an online encyclopedia of state history. HistoryLink wrote a historical piece about the bridge and its designer that is posted on its website. Chelan County, in partnership with WSDOT, also created an inventory of all historic bridges in the county. That inventory is available here.
Posted: 03/28/2018 11:44 AM
Last Updated: 03/04/2020 02:13 PM
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Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
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The information contained on this site is provided as a courtesy of the Chelan County. Where it exists, the "Index.txt" will contain a brief explanation of files contained in this folder
Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
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The information contained on this site is provided as a courtesy of the Chelan County. Where it exists, the "Index.txt" will contain a brief explanation of files contained in this folder
Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
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The information contained on this site is provided as a courtesy of the Chelan County. Where it exists, the "Index.txt" will contain a brief explanation of files contained in this folder
Chelan County makes every effort to ensure the accuracy of the information provided on its web site. However, due to the possibility of transmission errors, HTML browser capabilities, changes made since the last update to the site, etc., neither Chelan County, nor any agency, officer or employee of Chelan County warrants the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of any information published by this system and shall not be held liable for any losses caused by reliance on the accuracy, reliability, or timeliness of such information. Portions of such information may be incorrect or not current. Any person or entity that relies on any information obtained from this system does so at his or her own risk.
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The most significant segments of the bridge are its two 117-foot riveted steel Warren deck truss spans with verticals. While a small number of Warren through trusses remain, the number of Warren deck trusses is rare in Washington. Warren trusses became popular in the late 1930s; so Warren trusses built before the 1930s are substantially more significant than those built later due to their rarity. In addition, this was about the era when heavy standard steel-rolled sections were being introduced into the design of the truss members. The West Cashmere Bridge is one of the last bridges standing that uses truss members fabricated via the “build-up” method of light-rolled steel sections with tie plates and lacings.