On July 30, 1954, a significant milestone in infrastructure and community connection was celebrated with the dedication of the Pioneer Memorial Bridge, commonly known as the Blue Bridge. This crucial bridge, spanning the mighty Columbia River and linking Pasco and Kennewick, Washington, was inaugurated in a grand ceremony attended by state, county, and local dignitaries. The $7 million project was brought to fruition through collaborative efforts and marked a new era of transportation for the rapidly growing Tri-Cities area.
The dedication event was a festive occasion, featuring prominent figures such as Julia Butler Hansen, Chairman of the Washington State Roads and Bridges Committee, alongside local personalities Miss Benton County Betty Sue Hill, and Benton County Fair Rodeo Queen Jean Mullineaux, who together cut the ceremonial ribbon. Adding to the celebratory atmosphere, children on bicycles enthusiastically dashed across the bridge ahead of the official motorcade, becoming the first to traverse this new artery connecting the communities.
The genesis of the Pioneer Memorial Bridge dates back to July 1949, when a group of 14 forward-thinking business leaders from Pasco, Kennewick, and Kiona convened with Governor Arthur Langlie in Olympia. Their mission was clear: to address the pressing issue of traffic congestion. The existing two-lane bridge was struggling to cope with approximately 10,000 vehicles daily. The narrow 19-foot lanes were increasingly inadequate, especially given the growth spurred by the expansion of the Hanford Nuclear Reservation in nearby Richland and the ongoing construction of the McNary Dam.
Recognizing the urgency, the Richland Chamber of Commerce proposed a pragmatic solution: construct a toll bridge to recoup the investment. While initial requests for federal funding were unsuccessful, the Washington State Legislature stepped in during 1951, authorizing the necessary funds to make the bridge a reality.
The project officially commenced on August 14, 1951, with the awarding of a $2 million contract to a consortium of three construction firms: Jarvis Construction Co., Robert W. Austin, Inc., and Cascade Construction Co. This initial phase focused on laying the foundation, including the construction of 13 robust piers and the crucial approach on the Pasco side of the Columbia River.
Groundbreaking took place on September 19, 1951, with Pasco Mayor John Beck, Kennewick Mayor Urban Koelker, and Richland Community Council leader Dr. D. W. Pearce symbolically turning the first shovelful of earth. Adding local charm to the event, beauty queens Barbara Wickham (Miss Pasco), Carol Weeks (Miss Richland), and Wanda Arnold (Miss Kennewick) graced the ceremony with their presence. Key figures like Glen C. Lee, publisher of the Tri-City Herald, and Tom Doyle, district highway engineer, were also present, underscoring the project’s regional significance.
By late September 1951, progress was evident. Materials were being delivered, and pontoon bridges were assembled to facilitate river access. October saw crews excavating pier sites on the Pasco bank and initiating detour work at the Kennewick bridge approach. A significant undertaking was the establishment of a high-capacity cement plant on the Pasco side, capable of producing an impressive 100 cubic yards of concrete per hour, essential for the massive scale of the bridge piers.
November marked the commencement of work on five of the 13 piers. Pier 1 was strategically positioned on the Kennewick side, directly in the path of the old Richland-Kennewick highway, while Pier 13 anchored the structure on the opposite bank. December 13 witnessed the concrete pouring for Pier 3, a task completed in approximately eight hours. A synchronized fleet of trucks, arriving at six-minute intervals, transported concrete from the Pasco plant across a trestle to the pier site. Each mid-river pier was a monumental structure, containing enough concrete to cover an entire city block and reinforced with 885,000 pounds of rebar.
Work on Pier 7, situated mid-river, began on December 14, 1951. The spring of 1952 brought high water levels, forcing a six-week work suspension. However, construction crews utilized this downtime to focus on the bridge approaches. By early 1953, all 13 piers were successfully completed, paving the way for the next crucial phase.
April 1953 saw the awarding of a $3 million contract for the bridge superstructure to the American Bridge Division of U.S. Steel Corporation. The ambitious design featured a 2,520-foot tied-arch steel span, requiring nearly 10 million pounds of metal. A pivotal moment occurred in the first week of February 1954, when American Bridge successfully joined the two massive cantilever spans. May was dedicated to installing lighting and commencing work on the bridge deck. In a nod to Washington State’s traditional color, the bridge was painted green. Concurrently, in January 1954, Cherf Brothers and Sankay of Ephrata secured a $237,000 contract to grade the Kennewick approach and construct a traffic cloverleaf, representing the final major component of the project.
Upon completion, the Pioneer Memorial Bridge boasted a width of 66 feet, accommodating four lanes of traffic and sidewalks on both sides. Approaches from both banks of the Columbia River seamlessly integrated with the bridge. Remarkably, throughout the extensive construction period, no fatalities or serious injuries were reported, a testament to the safety protocols and skilled workforce, as highlighted by Highway Department engineer Frank Henager.
The dedication ceremony on July 30, 1954, commenced with a motorcade assembling at the Elks Club in Pasco at 9:30 a.m. By 10:15 a.m., the procession moved towards the new bridge. At the Lewis Street approach, the Camp Hanford band and color guard joined the celebration. Water skiing demonstrations and musical entertainment captivated an estimated 3,000 attendees as they awaited the formal ceremonies.
Ralph Rodgers of Pasco served as Master of Ceremonies, guiding the event that attracted numerous local and state dignitaries. Reverend Andrew Daughters, pastor of the Episcopal Churches of Pasco and Kennewick, eloquently spoke of the bridge as a symbol of unity between the neighboring communities. Raymond Moisio, chairman of the Washington State Highway Commission, emphasized the collaborative spirit between management and labor during the bridge’s construction. Robert Sheets, national vice president of the International Hodcarriers, reinforced this sentiment, noting the collective effort of everyone from farmers to teachers in realizing the project, making it a shared asset for all. William A. Bugge, head of the Washington State Highway Department, commended the workers for their exemplary work, and Ed Sorger of the Washington State Department of Labor and Industries also addressed the assembled crowd.
At approximately 11:40 a.m., State Representative Julia Butler Hansen, Chair of the House Roads and Bridges Committee, performed the ribbon-cutting. She acknowledged the instrumental roles of Senator Stanton Ganders, Representative O. H. Olson, and Representative Al Henry in securing the necessary legislative support for the bridge.
Following the ribbon-cutting, while a motorcade was intended to be the first official crossing, a group of boys on bicycles, including Jerry Brown of Pasco, and Dickie Burnett, Carlos Smith, and Jerry Martin of Kennewick, spontaneously raced ahead, becoming the unofficial first to cross. The motorcade then proceeded, led by the Camp Hanford band, onto the Kennewick side. Ed Welch, who had been among the first to cross the old inner-city bridge in 1922, drove the lead car, accompanied by Raymond Moisio and Julia Butler Hansen. H. W. Desgranges, former mayor of Kennewick, drove a surrey across the bridge, also recalling his presence at the original bridge dedication.
The procession continued through Kennewick before re-crossing the Pioneer Memorial Bridge and returning to the Pasco Elks Club for a celebratory luncheon hosted by Kennewick Attorney Charles Powell.
Beyond alleviating traffic congestion and hazardous conditions on the old bridge, the Pioneer Memorial Bridge delivered numerous additional benefits. It provided direct access to Sanders Field, home of the Tri-City Braves baseball team, significantly improving game attendance. The bridge also streamlined travel for residents of Connell and eased traffic bottlenecks during high school sporting events. Furthermore, it enhanced accessibility to recreational areas such as the Potholes Reservoir and hunting grounds in north Franklin County, boosting tourism and outdoor activities.
The original bridge was subsequently transferred to Benton and Franklin counties. While heavily used for inner-city traffic until its replacement in 1978, the Pioneer Memorial Bridge continued to serve as a vital regional connector. Over time, it was painted blue, earning its popular nickname, the “Blue Bridge.” It is also sometimes referred to as the (Highway) 395 bridge due to its role in connecting the north and south lanes of Interstate 395. In 2002, recognizing its architectural and engineering significance, the Pioneer Memorial Bridge was officially listed on the National Register of Historic Places, structure #02000241, cementing its legacy as a landmark of the Tri-Cities and Washington State.
