The future of the swinging bridge in Rhododendron sways in the balance, awaiting a decision by the federal government on a grant application that was expected to be filed Jan. 30 – just after press time.
It seems the 50-year-old swinger is in dire need of repairs, or perhaps
replacement.

A Federal Lands Access Program (FLAP) grant application – created
by Principal Planner Larry Conrad and Engineering Manager Mike Bezner –
went before the Clackamas Board of County Commissioners Jan. 20, and
board staff recommended the application. The recommendation calls for a
grant of $1,050,000 to replace the bridge, or an alternate proposal of
$291,833 for repairs.

The bridge that spans the Zigzag River – known locally as the swinging bridge
– came into being at the point where the old Mt. Hood Loop Highway crossed
the river before being washed out in the devastating flood of 1964.

The swinging bridge was built by the county to provide a crossing for
pedestrians and bicycles to the community of Rhododendron. The crossing
serves more than 250 permanent and part-time residences on Mt. Hood
National Forest Service and private property.

Steve Graeper, president of the Rhododendron CPO was quick to urge the
board to recommend the FLAP application.

In a Jan. 19 letter to the board – the day before the BCC met – Graeper
wrote:
“Maintaining this crossing location is paramount to not only the residents and
commercial establishments in the area, but to the bicycle tourism industry by
providing a convenient and safe crossing of the Zigzag River, away from the
dangers inherent with the heavily traveled Hwy. 26. Without this crossing
location, alternate routes to cross the river would be over a mile away and
would require travel along a lengthy stretch of Hwy. 26.

“Additionally, the Rhododendron CPO favors the replacement of the existing
bridge through funds acquired from this grant application rather than just
maintaining the existing swinging bridge. At only 6 feet wide, the current
bridge does not allow for easy passage of two-way pedestrian or bicycle
traffic.”

The replacement bridge would be 12-feet wide and provide for one-way
vehicle traffic.

Graeper also noted that the current configuration as a suspension bridge
causes it to easily bounce risking the safety of pedestrians and bicyclists that
could be a liability for the county.

Graeper continued to point out that replacing the bridge with one that meets
county standards would increase the probability that at least one bridge would
remain in the event of another catastrophic flood and would allow emergency
aid for victims who would otherwise be stranded on the peninsula between
Still Creek and the Zigzag River.

In the BCC executive summary it was pointed out that while replacing the
bridge is higher than the cost of major repairs, the Transportation
Maintenance Division has indicated the reduced long-term maintenance costs
associated with a new bridge would more than offset the short-term costs of
replacing the existing bridge.

The FLAP review of the grant application could take as long as six months,
according to Graeper.

Meanwhile, the swinging bridge rocks along, awaiting its fate.