The John Day River is a stream navigable to small boats, so it was necessary to provide a movable span of 40-foot clear opening. Owing to the unusually high price of steel it was decided to construct this bridge of wood. The movable span is of the single leaf bascule type operated by a windlass. Counter weights are employed to assist the movement of the span and in order to compensate for the variable pull required to lift the span at different phases of its movement, the counter weight cables operate over spiral drums in such manner that their pull is a maximum when the span is down, and is least when the span is raised, gradually changing between the two extremes. In order to guard against failure of the operator to close the gate on the side of the stream opposite the machinery, an automatic gate was constructed. It closes when the bridge starts to open and when the bridge closes it swings back out of the way automatically. The bridge rests on concrete piers carried on piling, and besides the lift span there are two 90-foot covered wooden spans. The operating machinery is completely housed in by means of a tower. The crossing was designed to carry 20-ton trucks and the covered spans have laminated wood floors with asphaltic wearing surface. One of the most serious objections raised against covered wooden bridges is the lack of light. This was overcome in this case, as in other wooden bridges on primary roads designed by this Department, by whitewashing the interior and the addition of open windows at panel points. These are provided with returns, and with the asphaltic wearing surface on the floors of such bridges prevent moisture coming in contact with the structural timbers of the bridge. This bridge was built by the Portland Bridge Company and the total cost will be about $25,000.00. The payments on the bridge to November 30, 1918, amounted to $21,051.52. Mr. Leigh M. Huggins was resident engineer in charge of construction. Big Creek Bridge This bridge is located on the Columbia River Highway near Knappa. It consists of two forty-five-foot reinforced concrete spans, and was built by the State Highway Department with State forces at a cost of $8,446.70. Plympton Creek Bridge The Plympton Creek Bridge is located on the Columbia River Highway in the town of Westport. It is a two thirty-foot span structure and was built by the State Highway Department with State forces at a cost of $6,413.19. Little Creek Culvert This is a 6 by 12 reinforced concrete structure and is located on the Columbia River Highway near Knappa. It was built by the Highway Department with State forces at a cost of $929.69. COLUMBIA COUNTY The State Highway Department expended in Columbia County during 1917 and 1918, the sum of $488,302.15, which is the largest amount expended in any one county in the state. With this amount the following work was completed: