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SOUTH DILLARD
South Umpqua River
1918 - 1939
December 28, 1917: "Sealed bids will be received by the State Highway Commission of the State of Oregon at the office of the chairman of the commission, 1301 Yeon building, Portland, at 11 a.m. on the 9th day of January, 1918, for three bridges described as follows;
One bridge about two miles south of Dillard, in Douglas County, across the Umpqua River, consists of two (2) 144 foot heavy traffic wooden spans on concrete piers. This is on the Pacific Highway." (Roseburg Review)
One bridge about two miles south of Dillard, in Douglas County, across the Umpqua River, consists of two (2) 144 foot heavy traffic wooden spans on concrete piers. This is on the Pacific Highway." (Roseburg Review)
January 22, 1918: "According to information received in this city this morning bids are soon to be advertised for, for the erection of the second Pacific highway bridge to be constructed on the route of the Roberts mountain cutoff. The Portland Bridge Co. was awarded the contract for the first bridge which is to be erected a short distance in a southerly direction from Winstons. This strip of the highway which eliminates the dangerous grades of the famous Roberts mountain will not, in all probability, be ready for use next summer, as has been predicted." (The News-Review)
May 24, 1918: “Work on two Pacific Highway bridges that will span the Umpqua River at a point three-fourths mile north of Dillard and two and one-half miles south, has been undertaken by the contractors, the Portland Bridge Company.” (The Sutherlin Sun)
May 24, 1918: “Work on two Pacific Highway bridges that will span the Umpqua River at a point three-fourths mile north of Dillard and two and one-half miles south, has been undertaken by the contractors, the Portland Bridge Company.” (The Sutherlin Sun)
September 9, 1918: "Arthur A. Jones, construction foreman on the two new bridges across the South Umpqua River near Dillard, on the new Pacific Highway route, was in this city Sunday. The bridge this side of Dillard is now being put in place and work on the one beyond Dillard will begin soon. The work has been somewhat delayed by the scarcity of experienced bridge men. The first bridge will not be completed for traffic until the second is in place. It is now necessary to rush the work on the foundations and piers for the latter before the water rises in the river. Both are to be completed this fall, however." (Roseburg Review)
June 6, 1925: "Steps to remove the danger at the covered bridge on the Pacific highway just south of Dillard, will be recommended to the state highway commission at once, the county court has been informed by state highway officials. It will be recommended that the siding on the west side of the bridge be removed, giving an unobstructed vision of the road across the structure. The highway makes a sharp turn onto the bridge, and a great many accidents have occurred at that point, several of them being quite serious. It is believed that there would be little danger, if an approaching driver were able to see cars coming from the opposite direction, and this can be arranged by removing the covering on one side. The east side and top will be left to afford as much protection as possible but the boards on the west side will be torn off, if the commission adopts the recommendation of the engineers." (The News-Review)
February 21, 1927: "The south approach on the highway bridge south of Dillard, settled about 6 or 8 feet when it was undermined Monday morning. The bridge itself was saved only by an all night fight on the part of large crews. The water was clear over the deck of the bridge, and the floating debris carried away mush of the siding and punched the bridge full of holes. The fill beneath the approach was washed away, allowing the pavement to settle so that the highway became completely impassable. It will probably require considerable time to get the highway in condition again to permit travel." (The News-Review)
February 22, 1927: "This morning workmen completed a temporary trestle at the Dillard bridge approach permitting cars to pass that way." (The News-Review)
November 25, 1938: "Work on the new $121,000 highway bridge at Dillard will be started December 5, it was announced at Portland today by the state highway department. PWA cooperation is being on the project, which has been allocated a grant in the sum of $54,652.
The new span will replace the existing bridge south of Dillard, eliminating a very dangerous traffic condition, as a sharp turn on the approach to the present structure has been the cause of numerous accidents.
The bridge to be constructed will be constructed will be built downstream from the present wooden span and will angle across the river, thus permitting use of the present bridge and highway until the new structure is ready for use.
Realignment of the highway will necessitate improvement of approximately 1,700 feet on both sides of the river, including grading and paving of about 1,200 feet of new highway.
The new bridge will be 500 feet in length and will be of steel and concrete construction." (The News-Review)