Deception Pass Bridge is the common name for two two-lane bridges on Washington State Route 20 connecting Whidbey Island in Island County , to Fidalgo Island in Skagit County , in the U.S. state of Washington . It was a Washington State Highways project, and included project elements built by young workers from the Civilian Conservation Corps . Completion of the bridge was a factor in the decision to build Naval Air Station Whidbey Island and helped Oak Harbor flourish. The bridge is a commonly photographed landmark of the Puget Sound region.
21-679: In the spring of 1792, Joseph Whidbey , master of HMS Discovery and Captain Vancouver 's chief navigator proved that it was not really a small bay as charted by the Spaniards (hence the name "Deception"), but a deep and turbulent channel that connects the Strait of Juan de Fuca with the Saratoga Passage , which separates the mainland from what they believed was a peninsula (actually Fidalgo Island and Whidbey Island). Thomas Coupe ,
42-505: A bay on the south-east coast of the county of Devon , England. Facing east into the English Channel , it is about 4.5 mi (7.2 km) wide from north to south. The settlements of Torquay , Paignton and Brixham , which lie along its coastline, are known collectively as Torbay . Tor Bay is bounded by outcrops of Devonian limestone forming its northern limit at Hope's Nose and its southern at Berry Head . The geology of
63-405: A desire for advantage. Nearly 4,000,000 (four million) tons of stone were quarried and transported, using about a dozen ships innovatively designed by the two men. Construction started on 8 August 1812; it was sufficiently completed by 1814 to shelter ships of the line, although work continued for over 50 years. Napoleon was reported as commenting that it was a grand thing, as he passed by it on
84-530: A detailed survey of Port Royal in Jamaica . Europa paid off , but Whidbey soon gained a berth, along with Vancouver, in the newly built HMS Discovery . During the Nootka Crisis , both men were transferred to HMS Courageux , but returned to Discovery and departed for the northwest coast of America. In 1792, Whidbey accompanied Lieutenant Peter Puget in small boats to explore what
105-461: A feasibility study of making Tor Bay a fleet anchorage; Whidbey recommended this be done by building a great breakwater . Surviving correspondence suggests that around this time he apparently struck up a lifelong friendly and professional relationship with the engineer John Rennie . Whidbey was appointed Master Attendant at Sheerness in 1799. His innovative salvage of the Dutch frigate ‘Ambuscade’
126-611: A naval engineer. He is notable for having been the first European to discover and chart Admiralty Island in the Alexander Archipelago in Alaska in 1794. Little is recorded of Whidbey's life before his warranting as a sailing master in 1779. After years of service during the War of American Independence , he received a peacetime appointment to HMS Europa , where with then-Lieutenant George Vancouver , he conducted
147-688: A number of near disasters when the wind changed direction unexpectedly. On 5 November 1688 William of Orange landed at Brixham, starting the Glorious Revolution . During the COVID-19 pandemic , restrictions on the cruise industry led to Tor Bay being used as a layup location to anchor numerous cruise ships including five Holland America vessels, as well as Tui ships Marella Explorer and Marella Explorer 2 . Cunard anchored ships in nearby Babbacombe Bay . The bay contains two sheltered harbours, at Torquay and Brixham. Almost
168-405: A sea captain and founder of Coupeville, was the only man ever to sail a full-rigged ship through the strait discovered by Whidbey. In the early years of the 20th century, travelers of the horse-and-buggy era used an unscheduled ferry to cross from Fidalgo Island to Whidbey Island. To call the ferry, they banged a saw with a mallet and then sat back to wait. The bridge, one of the scenic wonders of
189-566: Is expected to be completed in late 2021 at a cost of $ 22.6 million. The bridge will retain its current color, named "Evergreen Green", using lead-free paint; the project also includes replacement of steel pieces that have signs of corrosion. Joseph Whidbey Joseph Whidbey FRS (1757 – 9 October 1833) was a member of the Royal Navy who served on the Vancouver Expedition 1791–95, and later achieved renown as
210-465: Is sheltered from the prevailing south-westerly winds, Tor Bay has long been one of the safest refuges for shipping between Land's End and the Isle of Wight . In the mid-17th century, the bay was occasionally used by the naval fleet as an anchorage and as a gathering place for convoys. These uses were greatly expanded during the wars with France up to 1815, though the bay's exposure to easterly winds caused
231-578: The Napoleonic Wars impended, Whidbey joined Rennie in planning the Plymouth Breakwater , at St Vincent's request; in 1811 came the order to begin construction and Whidbey was appointed Acting Superintending Engineer. This task required great engineering, organizational and political skills, as the many strictly technical challenges were complicated by the significant resources devoted to the project, from which various parties evidenced
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#1732797765398252-547: The Pacific Northwest , is actually two spans, one over Canoe Pass to the north, and another over Deception Pass to the south. Pass Island lies between the two bridges. Construction began in August 1934, and the completed bridge was dedicated at noon on July 31, 1935. The Wallace Bridge and Structural Co. of Seattle, Washington provided 460 tons of steel for the 511-foot (156 m) Canoe Pass arch and 1130 tons for
273-683: The 976-foot (297 m) Deception Pass span. The cost of the New Deal -era construction was $ 482,000, made possible through the Public Works Administration and county funds. In 1982, the bridge was listed in the National Register of Historic Places ahead of a repainting project that cost more than the original construction cost. A second repainting was completed in 1997. A third repainting project began in May 2019 and
294-595: The Whidbey Automatic Light (Occulting Green) was constructed at the eastern end of Plymouth Sound in 1980. In what is now South Australia , Matthew Flinders in February 1802 named the following geographical features "after my worthy friend, the former master-attendant at Sheerness" – the Whidbey Isles and Point Whidbey . Tor Bay Tor Bay (sometimes written as Torbay ) is
315-536: The area is varied and complex, recognised by the 2007 designation of the English Riviera Geopark which includes all of Tor Bay's coastline. During the last glacial period , when sea level was much lower, Tor Bay was dry land, as is shown by the existence of a submerged forest in the bay. It was overwhelmed during the Flandrian transgression which started about 10,000 years ago. Because it
336-560: The gift to his great-niece was sizeable and left with explicit directions that it should not go to her current or any future husband. Whidbey's house near Plymouth still stands, and is called Bovisand House. Numerous features around Whidbey Island bear the Whidbey name, such as Joseph Whidbey State Park and Whidbey Island Naval Air Station . From the latter comes the name of the Whidbey Island -class dock landing ship . In Britain,
357-618: The two with the idea that a large hole in the floor of Plymouth bay might complicate construction, Whidbey wrote to Rennie that, should such a feature be discovered, it would be named Lady Northwell's Hole . It is not thought that Whidbey married or had children. A copy of his will was discovered in 2022 and is now in the collection of the South Whidbey Historical Society. The document suggests that Whidbey left his servants his wine and spirits. He bequeathed money to his niece, her daughter and his friends. Notably,
378-698: The way to exile on St. Helena in 1815. Whidbey continued to work on the breakwater and other engineering projects, including the breakwater's lighthouse (designed by Trinity House ), until retirement around 1830. His contribution to the Royal Society includes an 1817 paper on fossils found in the Plymouth quarries. Records of the Vancouver Expedition suggest that Whidbey was an expert and reliable seaman, entrusted with difficult tasks. However, upon his return to England, he provided testimony for Sir Joseph Banks ' campaign against George Vancouver (Whidbey
399-486: Was at the time competing with Vancouver for the pay accrued as Astronomer for the voyage.) Vancouver soon died, perhaps mooting difficulties in their relationship. At any rate, Whidbey rose swiftly from his humble beginnings, undoubtedly due to his proven technical skill as much as to his connections. Correspondence between Whidbey and John Rennie suggests a close and honest working relationship, and an earthy sense of humour. For example, when Sir Francis Northwell pestered
420-569: Was later named Puget Sound in Washington state . On 2 June, the team discovered Deception Pass , establishing the insularity of the Sound's largest island, which Vancouver named Whidbey Island . Upon Discovery ' s return to England, Whidbey served briefly in HMS ; Sans Pareil , but eventually turned to a shoreside career. In 1799, the then Earl St Vincent commissioned him to make
441-594: Was the subject of a paper read to the Royal Society in 1803. In 1804 he received the prestigious appointment as Master Attendant at Woolwich , one of the Royal Navy's greatest dockyards. In 1805, Whidbey became a Fellow of the Royal Society, sponsored by a long list of distinguished men of science: Alexander Dalrymple , James Rennell , William Marsden , James Stanier Clarke , Sir Gilbert Blane , Mark Beaufoy , Joseph Huddart , and John Rennie. In 1806, as
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