Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Bridge

Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Bridge
The NRHP-listed covered bridge in Pe Ell, Washington
Coordinates	46°32′43″N 123°17′55″W
Crosses	Chehalis River
Locale	Pe Ell, Washington
Heritage status	NRHP (delisted)
Characteristics
Design	Howe truss
Material	Timber
Total length	0 feet (0 m)
Width	0 feet (0 m)
Height	0 feet (0 m)
History
Construction start	1934
Construction end	1900
Construction cost	$1
Closed	1990
Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Bridge
Formerly listed on the U.S. National Register of Historic Places
Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Bridge
Area	less than one acre
Built	1934 (1934)
Built by	Chicago, Milwaukee, St. Paul and Pacific Railroad
Architect	James Donahue
Architectural style	Covered Howe truss; pony truss
Demolished	1990 (1990)
MPS	Historic Bridges/Tunnels in Washington state
NRHP reference No.	82004261
Significant dates
Added to NRHP	July 16, 1982
Removed from NRHP	July 16, 1990
Location

The Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Bridge was a covered bridge located over the Chehalis River in Pe Ell, Washington. The bridge was listed on the National Register of Historic Places (NRHP) in 1982 but delisted in 1990. The historic structure was destroyed due to rushing waters during flooding caused by the Great Coastal Gale of 2007.

History

The bridge was built in 1934 by the Pe Ell water department as a means to provide water to the town via a pipe within the bridge. The construction was overseen by James Donahoe, a superintendent of the water department. Although used for foot traffic, the bridge's main purpose was to supply water to the town, which continued unabated at time of it's NRHP nomination.

Rebuilt bridge

In 2002, the Tin Bridge replacement project received $400,000 from the Historic Covered Bridge Preservation Program overseen by the Federal Highway Administration, one of just eight sites in the nation to be accepted for the grant. Lewis County began a request for bids to either repair the site or build a new bridge in July 2004 and by the following year, the Tin Bridge Restoration Project had been formed.

As of 2024, a rebuilt bridge, known as the Tin Bridge, spans the Upper Chehalis River crossing. The site has been a planned location of a dam, proposed under the Chehalis River Basin Flood Authority and partnerships, to control flooding in the Chehalis Valley.

Architecture and engineering

The Pe Ell Bridge was described as a short-spanned timber Howe pony truss in six panels and the cover was corrugated metal. The crossing was engineered lacking a diagonal cross brace. Two steel vertical rods were used for tension support. Both the deck and pilings were made of timber. It was considered "stark" and "utilitarian", similar to that of the Doty Bridge.

Geography

The bridge spanned the Chehalis River at a location approximately 2 miles (3.2 km) south of the Pe Ell community.

Significance

The bridge was added to the National Register of Historic Places on July 16, 1982. At the time of it's nomination, it was recognized as one of only four covered bridges remaining in Washington and the only existing covered pony truss span in the state. It's significance was implied to be "exceptional" and the age of the bridge to be a notable factor.

Delisting

The Weyerhaeuser Pe Ell Bridge was formally delisted on July 16, 1990 after a letter from the Washington State Department of Archaeology and Historic Preservation days prior informed the NRHP that the structure had been destroyed.

External links

• Covered Spans of Yesteryear - Pe Ell Bridge details with photos
• University of Washington Digital Library - Photo of bridge, ca. 1963