Bridge is ordered for Sam’s Road span destroyed in Lower Dry Creek fire
By Terry Murry on Friday, August 21st, 2026 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
UMATILLA COUNTY – Umatilla County officials are dealing with the threats posed by the Hagen and Paradise fires, but that doesn’t mean they’ve forgotten about the devastation of the Lower Dry Creek blaze in July.
“We’ll be meeting with the community and have the right people on hand for things like resiliency and how do we make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Umatilla County Board of Commissioners Chair Dan Dorran said.
When the bridge over Dry Creek at Sam’s Road was destroyed, Public Works Director Tom Fellows said Baker County was quick to loan the county a bridge so the two property owners could access their land. Now, Dorran says, a permanent replacement has been ordered.
We were able to go out for an RFP (request for proposals) for a preconstructed, off-the-shelf bridge that fits the abutments that are already there,” Dorran said. The bridge with guardrail has been ordered from Spanweld Bridges of Wood Dale, Illinois for $64,309.72.
File photo of Lower Dry Creek Fire last month
