Ross Island Bridge
Ross Island Bridge | |
---|---|
Coordinates | 45°30′04″N 122°39′52″W / 45.50121°N 122.66454°W |
Carries | US 26 |
Crosses | Willamette River |
Locale | Portland, Oregon |
Official name | Ross Island Bridge |
Maintained by | ODOT |
Characteristics | |
Design | Cantilever deck truss |
Total length | 3,729 feet (1,137 m)[1] |
Longest span | 535 feet (163 m) |
History | |
Opened | December 21, 1926[1] |
Location | |
The Ross Island Bridge is a
History and description
The bridge was part of the unprecedented period of bridge building in Portland during the 1920s. It was opened on December 21, 1926, and cost $2 million to construct. The bridge was designed by a famous engineer named Gustav Lindenthal.[1][2]
The bridge is named for its location close to
A pedestrian underpass was built at SW Kelly Avenue and SW Naito Parkway in 1942 by the state of Oregon in conjunction with the Ross Island Bridge project.[3]
The bridge's girders were originally painted black, but in 1955–56 they were repainted green.
During the Great Depression, the bank of the Willamette near the Ross Island Bridge became the site of a Hooverville.[7]
In 1976, ownership was transferred from Multnomah County to the Oregon Department of Transportation.[1] In 2000–2001 the bridge underwent a $12.5 million renovation in which the deck was replaced, the railings were replaced and upgraded, and the drainage system and lighting were improved. During this renovation, lead paint was discovered, causing some delays and cost overruns.[8]
In 2014, work began on a full repainting of the bridge, including removal of the old, lead-based paint and restoration of the bridge's blue color, which had faded since being applied, in 1965. The project was completed in early 2019.[9]
Approaches
West approach
The west end of the bridge has a full
The pedestrian walkway comes off the north side parallel to the ramp to Kelly Avenue (leading to Arthur Street), running to the intersection of Kelly Avenue and Porter Street.
East approach
At the east end of the bridge, US 26 becomes Powell Boulevard as it passes over
The pedestrian walkway simply becomes the north sidewalk of Powell Boulevard, a major street.
See also
- Transport portal
- Engineering portal
- Oregon portal
- List of bridges documented by the Historic American Engineering Record in Oregon
- List of crossings of the Willamette River
- Transportation in Portland, Oregon#Bridges
References
- ^ ISBN 978-0-9787365-1-4.
- ISBN 0-87595-205-4.
- ^ "Stumptown Stumper". Portland Tribune. February 21, 2008. Retrieved January 18, 2020.
- ^ "Rainbows cost money". The Oregonian. January 16, 1957. p. 14.
- ^ "'Singing' Bridges". The Oregonian. October 12, 1961. p. 24.
- ^ "Orange-Red Bridge". The Oregonian. May 28, 1962. p. 16.
- ISBN 0-87595-211-9.
- ^ Hamilton, Don (April 13, 2001). "Bridge face-lift requires more cash, more time". Portland Tribune. Archived from the original on May 2, 2007. Retrieved February 11, 2013.
- ^ "U.S. 26: Ross Island Bridge Painting – Project Completed". Oregon Department of Transportation. February 22, 2019. Retrieved June 14, 2019.
External links
- Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) No. OR-102, "Ross Island Bridge, Spanning Willamette River at Powell Boulevard, Portland, Multnomah County, OR", 14 photos, 2 color transparencies, 73 data pages, 2 photo caption pages
- Library of Congress, photos of a Hooverville near the Ross Island Bridge