Conde B. McCullough Memorial Bridge

The Conde B. McCullough Bridge is named in honor of the lead engineer. There are a couple of reasons for this...

1.The McCullough Legacy:

C.B. McCullough was the state bridge engineer for Oregon from 1919 to 1935. Under his watch many of the key spans on Oregon early highways were designed and constructed. His philosophy to bridge design was to make the structure fit the site in which it was being built, have the bridge be cost effective, and finally he emphasized building structures that were pleasing to the eye.

McCullough assisted in pioneering different design and construction methods in concrete arch construction, along with building a solid reputation for the Oregon Highway Department. The legacy he left still lives in the design and maintenance of Oregon Bridges (with the notable acceptation of the interstate system). Oregon is one of the leaders in historic bridge preservation along with creating innovative and eye pleasing structures to replace aging structures.

2.Final Bridge:

The Coos Bay crossing was the last and largest bridge McCullough designed while the state bridge engineer. The bridge also completed the Oregon portion of the Pacific Coast Highway. He accepted a post in Central America designing bridges on the Pan-American Highway in 1935 and had to leave the Oregon Highway Department.

There is a great book written by Robert Hadlow called

"Elegant Arches, Soaring Spans"

It is a biography about Conde McCullough, and the bridges he worked on.

I am impressed with how well Oregon takes care of their historic bridges. Many are shown in this website as being primarily in awsome shape. My homestate chooses the cutting torch then pouring concrete later instead of saving historic bridges. What a shame.

What a beautiful structure - I love the Art Deco details included. How did the lead designer and the bridge happen to have the same name?