Overview

This reinforced concrete closed spandrel deck arch bridge served between 1928 and about 1994. This type of bridge had been routinely built in the US since the late 1880s.

Building History

The City of Spokane's Engineering Department erected this bridge over the Spokane River in 1927-1928, to replace two other dilapidated bridges nearby. The city allocated money for the cost of this arched, reinforced concrete span in 1927. It was completed in 04/1928. An article by Jesse Tinsley in the Spokane Spokesman-Review said of its construction: "There were at least two bridges in the Downriver area as early as 1910. One was made of timber and rested on pilings left from an old railroad trestle. Another was made of two steel sections salvaged from an even older bridge, possibly one built by pioneer businessman James Monaghan in the 1860s, later owned by Joseph LaPray, approximately 20 miles downstream of Spokane. Buggy and early automobile drivers said both crossings creaked and squeaked under loads. As the spans deteriorated, load limits encroached on daily use until the city set aside $70,000 in 1927 to build a new bridge of arched concrete close to the Army fort [Fort George Wright]. The construction was held up because H.S. Stoolfire, president of Spokane Valley Power, hoped to build a hydroelectric dam at the Bowl and Pitcher rock formation. He was offering to pay for part of the bridge if it was built high enough to allow for high water levels. Stoolfire agreed to pitch in $25,000." (See Jesse Tinsley, Spokane Spokesman-Review.com, "Then and Now: Downriver bridge," published 04/24/2020.)

A contemporary photo in the Spokane Chronicle in 04/1930 carried this caption: "The city-owned Downriver bridge leading to Fort Wright is shown in this picture snapped by the Chronicle photographer from a point just south of the municipal golf course. With erection of the bridge last year, Downriver drive has become even more of an attraction for motorists, in addition to being one of the favorite routes for horseback devotees." (See "Downriver Concrete Bridge; Beauty Spot Right Inside City of Spokane," Spokane Chronicle, 04/25/1930, second section, p. 1.)

Alteration

Expansion of the Downriver Bridge from two to four lanes began in 1970, with work supervised by the Max J. Kuney Company. The existing structural supports were reused. During this renovation of the Downriver Bridge, the city rechristened the span, the "T.J. Meenach Bridge" for the local realtor Thomas Jefferson Meenach, Sr., (1889-1965) who had provided years of service on the Spokane Park Board, including as president.

The outside lanes of the Meenach Bridge were closed in 1987 due to structural vulnerability. A four-lane replacement bridge, also named for T.J. Meenach, was erected in 1994 to the northwest of the old bridge. It was an open spandrel deck arch bridge.

PCAD id: 24451