Before the Kummer Bridge along what is now SR 169 opened in 1933, the best route from Black Diamond to Enumclaw was via the Green River Gorge Bridge at Franklin. Why here? Franklin coal mines made the town quite the going concern in the early 1900's and the bridge span across the Green River at this point was the narrowest potential point of crossing for quite a few miles. The first structure built, however, was not what one would call an engineering marvel.
Photo courtesy Black Diamond Historical Society
The one lane largely wooden structure was placed deep into the gorge and required steep grades both down and up to make it across. Our current one lane bridge was placed directly above the path of old one. The following photo taken from one of my earlier blog posts Green River Gorge Bridge shows the new bridge under construction high above the old one.
Photo courtesy Museum of History & Industry
Construction of the new bridge was completed in 1923.
Great photo which I'd never seen before. I might have to use it in my own column someday.
Posted by: Bill Kombol | 04/02/2017 at 09:23 AM