A four day celebration marked the dedication of the Astoria-Megler Bridge, with a ribbon cutting taking place on August 27, 1966 (The Sunday Oregonian, 28 August 1966).
ASTORIA (Special) – The $25 million Astoria – Megler Bridge was dedicated here Saturday under faultless skies, closing the last link in Highway 101 from Tijuana, Mexico, to the northern tip of Washington – 1,625 miles.
Oregon’s Gov. Mark O. Hatfield and Washington’s Gov. Daniel J. Evans presided and an estimated 30,000 to 35,000 people jammed this coastal community for a day of celebration which included the finish of a marathon boat race from Portland to Astoria; a three – hour parade down Marine Drive; the dedication ceremonies; a mammoth salmon barbecue at the fairgrounds and finally a semi-pro football game at Gyro Field.
(Though this was the official dedication, the Astoria-Megler Bridge had actually opened to automobile traffic a month earlier, on July 29, 1966.)
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