Sam Helwer's speech noted the 1st bridge built at Orleans was in 1912. it was built by Humboldt county it was a 374 feet long suspension bridge using timber for towers, deck, & stiffening trusses. In 1926 the State Highway division had to rebuild some of it because a fire destroyed one of the cables and the center span. The rebuilt bridge had a 8 feet wide roadway & a 14'8" feet vertical clearance. To accommodate traffic during the repair. a temporary 470' feet long bridge was built by a Guy McMurtry in 13 days. In 1938 the bridge was posted for 9 tons due to deterioration. In 1940 a new suspension bridge was built 364' feet- a steel suspension span with a 20' feet wide 2 lane deck, & 26' feet vertical clearance, Total L= 665' feet including the approach spans. The 1955 flood came close to within a few feet. The 64 flood was 13' feet higher than 55 & several feet over the deck. The bridge was taken out. A temporary 570' feet low level trestle was built by 4/1/1965. But this was knocked out Jan. 6, 1966. Another trestle was built by Feb. 8th 1966. on Dec. 28, 1966, the first traffic passed over the brand new suspension bridge.