Washington State Route 401 Explained

State:WA
Type:SR
Route:401
Section:580
Map:Washington State Route 401.svg
Map Notes:SR 401 is highlighted in red.
Length Mi:12.13
Length Round:2
Length Ref:[1]
Established:1964[2]
Direction A:South
Terminus A: in Megler
Direction B:North
Terminus B: in Naselle
Counties:Pacific
Previous Type:SR
Previous Route:397
Next Type:I
Next Route:405

State Route 401 (SR 401) is a 12.132NaN2 long state highway in Pacific County within the U.S. state of Washington. The highway originates at the north end of the Astoria–Megler Bridge west of Megler at an intersection with (US 101). The roadway travels northeast, paralleling cliffs, the Columbia River and the South Fork of the Naselle River to Naselle, ending at . The road was designated Secondary State Highway 12B (SSH 12) between 1937 and 1964, when SR 401 was created to replace SSH 12B. The Astoria–Megler Bridge, completed in 1966, replaced a ferry east of the bridge, where the highway originally ended, and is known locally as Kingston Ferry Road. The roadway was extended west to the north end of the bridge, where it currently terminates. The former ferry terminal became the Dismal Nitch rest area, named after the Lewis and Clark Expedition's description of the place.

Route description

SR 401 originates at an intersection with (US 101) at the north end of the Astoria–Megler Bridge west of Megler and southeast of McGowan. Traveling northeast between cliffs and the Columbia River past the Dismal Nitch Safety rest area to Knappton,[1] the highway turns north along more cliffs and the South Fork of the Naselle River. In Naselle, the South Fork merges with the Naselle River, which the roadway crosses over three times before terminating at .[3] [4] The intersection with SR 4 is also the busiest segment of the road with an estimated daily average of 2,800 motorists,[5] which has been decreasing from 3,100 motorists in 2005.[6]

History

See also: Astoria-Megler Ferry.

Secondary State Highway 12B (SSH 12B) was created during the 1937 establishment of the Primary and secondary state highway system as an auxiliary route of (PSH 12), co-signed as both (US 101) and . The highway ran from PSH 12 / US 101 at the Megler ferry landing on the Columbia River to PSH 12 / US 830 in Naselle, with a gap between Megler and Knappton.[7] [8] [9] The full highway was opened in October 1962, ahead of the expected completion of the Astoria–Megler Bridge, which opened in 1966.[10] [11]

SSH 12B became SR 401 during the 1964 highway renumbering.[12] [13] The Dismal Nitch Safety rest area, formerly the Megler Landing Rest Area, was remodeled twice in 2007 to be accessible year-round.[14] [15] [16]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: State Highway Log: Planning Report, SR 2 to SR 971 . . 2008 . August 23, 2009.
  2. Web site: 1970 . RCW 47.17.580: State route No. 401 . Washington State Legislature. August 23, 2009.
  3. Washington State Department of Transportation . 2008 . 2008–09 . Washington State Highways, 2008–2009 . G2 . United States Geological Survey . 1:842,000 . August 23, 2009.
  4. . Pacific Northwest: Washington, Oregon, Western Idaho, Southwestern British Columbia . 6th . 2004 . . 1 inch = 7.5 miles . The Thomas Guide . 186 . 0-528-99511-1.
  5. Web site: 2008 Annual Traffic Report . Washington State Department of Transportation . 2008 . August 23, 2009 . June 16, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100616135704/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/PDF_and_ZIP_Files/Annual_Traffic_Report_2008.pdf . dead .
  6. Web site: 2005 Annual Traffic Report . Washington State Department of Transportation . 2005 . August 23, 2009 . June 16, 2010 . https://web.archive.org/web/20100616135814/http://www.wsdot.wa.gov/mapsdata/tdo/PDF_and_ZIP_Files/Annual_Traffic_Report_2005.pdf . dead .
  7. Book: Washington State Legislature . Session Laws of the State of Washington . August 23, 2009 . 1937 . March 18, 1937 . Washington State Legislature . Olympia, Washington . 1008–1009 . Chapter 207: Classification of Public Highways . (b) Secondary State Highway No. 12B; beginning at Megler on Primary State Highway No. 12, thence in an easterly and northerly direction to a junction with Primary State Highway No. 12 in the vicinity north of Naselle..
  8. . United States Geological Survey . Hoquiam, 1951 . 1951 . 1:250,000 . August 23, 2009.
  9. University of Texas at Austin . United States Geological Survey . Hoquiam, 1958 . 1958 . 1:250,000 . August 23, 2009.
  10. News: October 7, 1962 . Southwest Washington Sections to Open . A4 . . . March 25, 2022.
  11. Web site: Oregon Highway Department completes Astoria-Megler Bridge over the Columbia River on August 27, 1966. . Long, Priscilla . March 5, 2005 . . August 23, 2009.
  12. Web site: Identification of State Highways . C. G. Prahl . Washington State Highway Commission, Department of Highways . December 1, 1965 . August 23, 2009.
  13. University of Texas at Austin . United States Geological Survey . Hoquiam, 1968 . 1968 . 1:250,000 . August 23, 2009.
  14. SR 401 Dismal Nitch Safety Rest Area Now Fully Operational . October 16, 2007 . Washington State Department of Transportation . . August 23, 2009.
  15. SR 401 Dismal Nitch Safety Rest Area Remains Open with Portable Facilities . October 16, 2007 . Washington State Department of Transportation . Naselle, Washington . August 23, 2009.
  16. Water Line Repairs at the SR 401, Dismal Nitch Rest Area Complete . October 25, 2007 . Washington State Department of Transportation . Naselle, Washington . August 23, 2009.

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