Name
Genre
Long Description
Longview, WA is famous for its delightful squirrel bridges—ingenious little wildlife crossings crafted to help squirrels avoid busy streets. Here’s a full tour of all the known bridges:
1. Nutty Narrows Bridge
- Location: Olympia Way, between 18th Ave & Maple St (near R.A. Long Park).
- Details: The original 1963 squirrel crossing—60 ft long, built from recycled fire hose and aluminum. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places
- Why It’s Awesome: This catenary-style miniature suspension bridge was the first in the U.S. and remains Longview’s iconic landmark.
2. Bruce Kamp Squirrel Bridge
- Location: 1300 block of West Kessler Boulevard.
- Details: A covered‑bridge style structure installed in 2011 as a memorial. Made of copper with a webcam
- Tour Tip: Walk or drive West along Kessler Blvd to find it—look for the webcam!
3. John R. Dick Bridge
- Location: Nichols Boulevard, near Kentucky Blvd (by RA Long High School).
- Details: Unveiled ~2012, modeled after Boston’s Zakim Bridge—a cable‑stayed version
4. OBEC Bridge
- Location: Louisiana St at ~23rd Ave.
- Details: Installed circa 2013–14; a covered‑bridge aesthetic with redwood frame and metal roof. Designed by OBEC Engineering
5. Safety Awareness Bridge
- Location: 1700 block of Kessler Boulevard.
- Details: A 2015 truss‑style structure built by local high‑school robotics teams, featuring colored glass panels (walkers, cyclists) to promote safety
6. R.D. Olson MFG. Bridge
- Location: On Kessler Boulevard across from Lion’s Island.
- Details: Designed to resemble the big Lewis‑Clark Bridge across the Columbia. Built by R.D. Olson MFG from Kelso
7. Fremont‑Style (S & R) Bridge
- Location: Kessler Blvd at the end of Lake Sacajawea.
- Details: An aluminum replica of Portland’s Fremont Bridge—about 20 ft long, tied‑arch design
8. PUD Squirrel Bridge
- Location: (Often referred simply as the “PUD Bridge”) Precise location on Kessler Blvd; built by the public utility district .
9. Waco Japan Sister City Bridge
- Location: Also on Kessler Boulevard, celebrating Longview’s partnership with Waco, Japan mylongview.com.
🗺️ Suggested Tour Route
- Start at Nutty Narrows near R.A. Long Park.
- Drive west on Kessler Blvd:
- Stop at Bruce Kamp,
- Continue to Safety Awareness,
- Visit R.D. Olson near Lion’s Island.
- Swing south to Nichols Blvd for the John R. Dick Bridge.
- Head to Louisiana St & 23rd Ave to see the OBEC Bridge.
- Finish at Fremont‑Style, PUD, and Sister City Bridges by Lake Sacajawea end of Kessler Blvd.
- Time your visit for August, when Squirrel Fest celebrates these quirky landmarks on a guided tour.
🎯 Fun & Useful Info
- Bridges are maintained by volunteer group Sandbaggers, who also host Squirrel Fest
- The bridges aren’t just cute—they help reduce squirrel road fatalities and make for great photo ops!
- You can stream live via webcam on the Bruce Kamp bridge at lvsquirrelfest.com.
This self-guided tour should take about 1–2 hours by car or bike, plus plenty of opportunities for squirrel-watching and exploring Lake Sacajawea Park. Enjoy your nutty adventure!
There are also a Squirrel Bridge Tour each year during the Squirrel Festival on the 3rd Saturday of August.