Many railroads used bridges and other structures as convenient advertising mediums.  Bridge 35 is just 150 feet from highway 10, the precursor to Interstate 90 and today known as North Bend Way.  In 1981, I-90 was aligned and moved about 1 mile to the south.  Part of the multi-year I-90 project led to the abandonment of the much of the Snoqualmie Branch.  

Bridge 35's original "Ship Northern Pacific Travel" advertising sign was damaged by vandals and 50 years of weathering so rehabilitation was not practicable.  A new sign was faithfully copied from the original and reinstalled.  Only a few minor "improvements" were made: urethane paint instead of alkyd, oak mounting brackets instead of creosote-treated fir, and galvanized bolts instead of plain steel.

McConnell Construction's Tom McConnell bravely climbed to the top of the bridge to install the new sign.  He was assisted by Walt Weaver, the Museum's Civil Engineer and project inspector. 

Page 1  2  3  4

(To return to the Project Archive page, close this window)