Tri-City Herald from Pasco, Washington • 24

TRI-CITY HERALD PASCO KENNEWICK RICHLAND WASHINGTON Page Si Friday August 30 1974 Yearly crossing total climbs to one million ings for the year increased by almost 15 per cent When opened in 1955 consultants predicted the span would be paid off in 1982 Highway improvements increased traffic and higher tolls (raised from 85 cents in 1955 to $1 Sept 1 1958 (me way) coupled with almost $400000 in excess funds from the original construction bond have resulted in the bridge pay-off six years ahead of schedule Consultants also predicted total crossings from 1955 through 1973 would total 25180000 while the actual figure was 9557918 crossings in the summer months is made up of truck traffic loaded with potatoes or building products Hiatt's advertising program has made the bridge known as the fastest route Spokane and Seattle and as such has drawn numerous tourists on their way to Expo '74 and the Seattle World's Fair in 1962 Improvement of Route 14 to the Tri-Cities increased traffic by cutting almost 30 minutes driving time on a round trip Construction on the road dropped crossings for four months in 1972 yet cross UMATILLA Increases in population in the Tri-Cities and Hermiston coupled with new industries on both sides of the Columbia River has resulted in the Umatilla Toll Bridge being in full" ahead of schedule Crossings over the span have shown a steady increase over the past 19 years rising from 166622 in 1955 to a record 1055661 in 1973 Bridge Manager Gene Hiatt said most of the daily traffic over the span is local people going to the Tri-Cities to shop or coming to Umatilla and Morrow counties on business A large share of the local Two states to take over Nov 1 Under the agreement the Washington Highway Department will do all the maintenance on the Umatilla Bridge and on the Washington approach Oregon will maintain the southern approach to Highway 730 Hiatt explained that while Washington will perform the bridge maintenance the cost of keeping the span in good repair will be divided between the states experience with the bridge indicates an average maintenance cost of about $50000" Hiatt said that doesn't mean we spent $50000 each year" Over the past two summers the bridge has been resurfaced the Oregon approach widened and the span painted Resurfacing cost $115500 The paint job at $234500 Painting included sandblasting the bridge and 6000 gallons of primer and paint bridge UMATILLA Oregon and Washington will be co-owners of the former Umatilla Toll Bridge when it is formally paid off Nov 1 Tolls were lifted from the bridge today but the span will remain the property of Umatilla County until Nov 1 Gene Hiatt manager of the bridge said the Nov 1 date will be used to back" the bridge from bond holders under a contract signed when the span was built 20 years ago only have two times a year we can call back the bonds" he said will issue a notice sometime in September for bond holders to turn in their bonds for Hiatt explained 1 Financing of the bonds was arranged through the Bank of Chicago in Blinds he said Transfer of the bridge to the neighboring states was completed about two years ago are the main crops on the new farms which have been appearing on both sides of the Columbia Riven Potatoes as far as the eye can see are growing on these irrigated circles owned by Desert Magic near Boardman Wheat sugar beets and potatoes reml IUI Ini Q) 10 Ul In ownership GENE HIATT under an agreement that covered four Columbia River spans The contract also included bridges at The Dalles Biggs and at Longview will maintain two of the bridges and Washington will maintain the other Hiatt explained IT rr To Portland North South Mid-Columbia THE East West people and products are moving in the region in ever-increasing volume in all directions UMATILLA BRIDGE IS THE KEYSTONE OF THIS SYSTEM The building of the bridge with the farm development on both sides of the river now underway is a great tribute to courage and vision of Oregon's leaders Their wisdom and imagination has brought great benefits Now it is up to the highway departments of both Oregon and Washington to improve the system of highways leading to and from this transportation link the Umatilla Bridge OTHELLO WASHINGTON.