Creosote and part of my life

1953 -1954, I was assigned to the replacement of the Skagit River bridge at Marysville, Washington. The river was navigable, per the Corps of Engineers rules. A sternwheeler (live steam) came from American Can's plant in Seattle to the Carnation Milk condensing and canning plant a few feet upstream of the bridge, every few weeks.

The protection structure for the drawspan when it was in the open position was creosote treated timber. The posts were "upside down" utility poles, driven in place by a steam hammer. All the lateral timbers were cut to fit per design. I retired a lot of clothing as that project progressed.

Anecdotes: Our floating crane was steam powered. Built for the US Army,
WW II. Owned and maintained by Foss Tug, Seattle. Goes out occasionally.
Moored on the South side of the Lake Washington Ship Canal, East of the Ballard Bridge, Seattle. May be seen from city streets. Tours? Possibly.

Some years after we replaced the bridge, Carnation Milk closed their plant, and the Skagit River was ruled to be no longer navigable for commercial vessels. Creosote still oozes into the river.