Pasco-Kennewick Old Bridge

Pasco-Kennewick Old Bridge. . This plaque marks the northern abutment of the Tenth Street Bridge, known to generations locally as the Pasco-Kennewick Bridge. When it opened to the public October 7, 1922, it became the last link in the Yellowstone Trail, giving the nation its first ferryless highway from the Atlantic coast to the Pacific coast. One of the passengers in the first official car to cross the bridge was Captain W.P. Gray, a retired steamboat captain, then considered Pasco's "Grand Old Man", who had witnessed, as an active participant, the various transformations in travel over the mighty Columbia. He piloted the Frederick K. Billings in the days of railway train service, at Ainsworth and Pasco before the railway bridges were constructed across the Columbia between Franklin and Benton counties., It was a privately-owned toll bridge, costing $480,000. The old bridge structure was 3,300 feet long, 19 feet wide, and contained 1,015 tons of steel. On July 2, 1931, the Northwest Toll Bridge Company delivered the deed to the bridge to the two counties. Tolls were taken off that midnight, and local celebrations were held in Pasco and Kennewick., The old bridge served the two cities and counties exclusively until 1954 and was then joined in service by the opening of the "Blue Bridge" (officially known as the Pioneer Memorial Bridge) up river. The old bridge stayed in service until September 16, 1978, when the "Cable Bridge" (officially known as the Intercity Bridge) was opened. The old bridge remained closed from 1978 until 1990, when it was demolished.