(Nov. 8, 2024- MANZANITA) – Both lanes of U.S. 101 are open four miles north of Manzanita after completion of emergency repairs to the Necarney Creek Bridge.
We had been flagging traffic through a single lane 24 hours a day for over two months since the bridge was severely damaged on Aug. 29 in an apparent collision with the guardrail on the northbound side. The damage took out a section of original concrete guardrail on the bridge, which was built in 1937, and severely damaged the tubular steel guardrail we installed in 2008 to improve safety.
We suspect that a vehicle struck the bridge sometime Aug. 29, but no one reported any incident to us or law enforcement. Anyone who may have witnessed a vehicle colliding with guardrail on U.S. 101 in Oswald West State Park, please contact Lt. Andy Hasenkamp at Oregon State Police Astoria Area Command at 503-318-9917.
We don’t yet have a precise total cost for this repair but estimate it is around $1 million.
Thanks to the efforts of our crews, the damaged section of this nearly 90-year-old historic bridge has been repaired and is ready for vehicle traffic. Unfortunately, we never learned the size and weight of the vehicle that caused the damage, so we’re implementing extra precautions. These precautions include closing the sidewalks and installing a barricade to serve as a buffer between heavy vehicles and the bridge railing. We are actively working on a more permanent solution, and drivers can expect to see additional work on the bridge in the near future.
We appreciate the patience of north coast residents and travelers during the two months that the lane was closed, as well as the 36-hour full closure Sept. 21-22 for removal of the damaged guardrail.
To see images of the damage and repair visit the Necarney Creek Bridge Flickr album.