The Coos Bay Swing Span Bridge, a key component of the Coos Bay Rail Line, has served as a vital transportation link on Oregon’s southern coast for over a century. Constructed between 1914 and 1916, the bridge was originally part of the larger 134-mile rail corridor designed to connect the interior Willamette Valley with the ports and timber-rich lands along the coast. Built as a swing-span structure, the bridge was engineered to accommodate both rail traffic and the needs of maritime navigation, allowing vessels to pass through Coos Bay’s inner harbor. The bridge was one of three major movable railroad bridges on the line, the others spanning the Umpqua and Siuslaw Rivers. For much of the 20th century, it served under private railroad ownership, eventually becoming part of Union Pacific’s network. However, by the early 2000s, declining freight activity and deferred maintenance led to diminished rail operations along the line. In response, the Oregon International Port of Coos Bay acquired the bridge and surrounding rail infrastructure in stages, beginning with the bridge itself in 2001. The Port then assumed ownership of the entire rail line between Coquille and Eugene in 2009. Between 2009 and 2013, the Port invested in major rehabilitation efforts, restoring full freight service and reviving the bridge as a functioning element of regional commerce. A major structural crisis occurred in April 2018 when two of the bridge’s central support columns failed, rendering the swing span inoperable. The Port acted quickly to maintain freight service by constructing a temporary transload facility that allowed cargo to be shifted between trucks and rail. A full engineering assessment and emergency stabilization followed, led by the firm Hardesty & Hanover. The repairs included the replacement of steel components, reinforcement of structural supports, and rehabilitation of mechanical and electrical systems. In late 2018, the Port of Coos Bay secured a $20 million federal BUILD grant to fund the rehabilitation of the swing span bridge and 14 other bridges along the line. By spring 2019, the Coos Bay Swing Span Bridge was restored to operational status, resuming its critical role in linking the coastal port with the national rail network via Eugene. Now over 100 years old, the Coos Bay Swing Span Bridge remains essential to the region’s economy, supporting industries such as timber, agriculture, and maritime trade. Ongoing preservation and modernization efforts are intended to ensure the longevity and resilience of this historically significant structure, which continues to serve as a crucial junction between Oregon’s coast and inland markets. Photographed from the McCullough Memorial Bridge, this sunset view looks west towards the Pacific Ocean and the 100 year old Coos Bay Swing Span bridge. North Bend, Coos County, Oregon South Coast.
Bridge, Coos Bay, Coos County, Sunset
