Wonder why this road did not follow the previous from Mosier up State road to Ortley and down seven mile grade to Chenowith. This bridge and Rowena loops were not low cost construction.

Kenn on 19th May 2020 @ 9:09am

Just a guess, Kenn-- the goal was to create a scenic road along the Columbia, and the "easy" route would have been less scenic. I'll bet they did a route study like this one:
http://historichoodriver.com/index.php?showimage=1536
for this segment of highway too. Maybe it will show up?

ArthurB on 19th May 2020 @ 9:53am

Another thought on this route-- i wonder if the symmetry of Crown Point and Rowena Crest as gateways to the highway played a role in the route selection? I've always thought of Rowena Crest and Crown Point as bookends to the highway.

ArthurB on 19th May 2020 @ 10:49am

So......
two more years until you can celebrate the Centennial for this section of road?

L.E. on 19th May 2020 @ 12:09pm

That's correct, LE. Plan for a party summer of 2022. We had a post (638) which indicates August 2 as the final day of paving. Hopefully the Model T spread around my garage will be back together by then.

Bob Hadlow, ODOT historian has a report on the alternate routes considered for this section of highway. He reports, "the alignment they chose made the grade and curve standards that they wanted to see on the CRH and offered vistas and pullouts that are part of the experience of driving the highway."

ArthurB on 19th May 2020 @ 1:19pm

especially great history with todays posting. two gateways to the Gorge...makes sense but never thought of it.

Arlen Sheldrakes on 19th May 2020 @ 3:54pm

One man designed the road in Multnomah county, another in Hood River county, who did this section in Wasco county?.

Kenn on 20th May 2020 @ 8:10am

I have Lancaster's first (1915) report to Multnomah county and Eliot's (1914) to Hood River county, who designed the Wasco county section?

Kenn on 21st May 2020 @ 8:51am