HistoricBridges.org Menu: HistoricBridges.org Menu:


We Recommend:
Bach Steel - Experts at historic truss bridge restoration.

HistoricBridges.org: Bridge Browser

Steel Bridge

Steel Bridge

Primary Photographer(s): Nathan Holth

Bridge Documented: August 22, 2014 and September 3, 2018

View Photos
and Videos
View Maps
and Links

Facility Carried / Feature Intersected
OR-99W and Railroad (Southern Pacific) Over Willamette River
Location
Portland: Multnomah County, Oregon: United States
Structure Type
Metal 7 Panel Rivet-Connected Pratt Through Truss, Movable: Vertical Lift (Span Drive) and Approach Spans: Metal 11 Panel Rivet-Connected Pratt Deck Truss, Fixed
Construction Date and Builder / Engineer
1912 By Builder/Contractor: American Bridge Company of New York, New York and Engineer/Design: Waddell and Harrington of Kansas City, Missouri
Rehabilitation Date
Not Available or Not Applicable
Main Span Length
211.0 Feet (64.3 Meters)
Structure Length
800.0 Feet (243.8 Meters)
Roadway Width
50 Feet (15.24 Meters)
Spans
1 Main Span(s) and 2 Approach Span(s)
Inventory Number
0668301WX00036

Historic Significance Rating (HSR)
View Information About HSR Ratings

Bridge Documentation

View Archived National Bridge Inventory Report - Has Additional Details and Evaluation

View Historic American Engineering Record (HAER) Documentation For This Bridge

HAER Drawings, PDF - HAER Data Pages, PDF - HAER Data Pages Addendum, PDF

HAER Documentation, Willamette River Bridges - Data Pages - Drawings -Timeline

View Historic Resource Inventory Sheet For This Bridge

View A Historical Article About This Bridge

This bridge is one of the most unique movable bridges in the country. The vertical lift bridge was designed by famous engineers and vertical lift proponents John Alexander Low Waddell and John Lyle Harrington. The bridge is a double-deck structure with vehicular traffic on the upper level and railroad traffic on the lower level. The bridge is specially designed so that the lower deck can be raised without raising the upper deck.  The lower deck is hung from the upper deck by hangers, and cables inside the vertical lift truss are able to pull the hangers up inside the vertical members, raising the lower deck up to just below the upper deck. This position would allow for medium sized boats to get under the bridge without interrupting vehicular traffic. For larger boats, the entire bridge can then be lifted in a more traditional fashion, providing the full height clearance afforded by the towers of the bridge.

The configuration of the upper deck of this bridge is unusual because it includes a vehicular traffic lane that is cantilevered out on each side of the truss, in addition to the roadway provided in the traditional space between the truss lines.

In addition to its unique design, this bridge is an early surviving lift bridge designed by Waddell and Harrington, which was the company which pioneered and popularized the modern vertical lift bridge starting with a lift bridge built in Chicago on Halsted Street in 1893.

This bridge's lower deck is raised in a similar manner to the ASB Bridge in Kansas City, also designed by Waddell and Harrington. The ASB Bridge lacks the ability to raise its upper deck however. For this reason, the Steel Bridge is the only one of its kind in the United States, where each deck can be raised independently.

Although the name "Steel Bridge" is an accurate description of this bridge, the name originated from the previous bridge at this location which was the first of its kind in the city.

Thanks to the addition of a sidewalk on the lower deck of this bridge in more recent years, it is possible for visitors to walk both the upper and lower deck of this bridge.

The bridge includes an extensive ramp approach system at the western end as well as several approach spans at the eastern end. Because of this as well as the double-deck design, measuring the total bridge length depends on which deck and ramp you are measuring. Another oddity is that the main span is not the largest span. The approach truss spans are listed with a 287 foot span, while the main lift span is 211 feet. The total length given in the technical facts table refers to the lower deck. Measuring the longest ramps on the bridge, the total length of the upper deck approaches 1800 feet.

Oregon's Historic Bridge Inventory indicates a number of companies who built the bridge. A historical article mentions that the American Bridge Company built the bridge. It is assumed American Bridge Company fabricated (and possibly erected) the superstructure, while United Engineering and Construction Company of Portland, Oregon may have acted as a general contractor for the superstructure. Oregon Railroad and Navigation Company, listed as a builder of the bridge by the inventory, might be better described as an owner or financer.

Information and Findings From Oregon's Historic Bridge Inventory

Description

Three double-deck riveted Pratt trusses with the center truss being a 211-ft long two stage lift span.

Designer

Waddell and Harrington, Kansas City

Builders

Oregon-Washington Railway and Navigation Co. (Builder); United Engineering and Construction Co., Portland (Superstructure); Robert Wakefield and Co., Portland (Substructure)

Significance

The first bridge built at this location in 1888 used steel as its main building material, the first such occurrence in Portland, thus the name the Steel Bridge, which remains on the modern bridge. The current Steel Bridge replaced that first one in 1912, and maintained the tradition of innovation in bridge design set by its predecessor. At the time of its opening, the 1912 Steel Bridge claimed to be the largest telescoping bridge in the world. The telescoping, two-stage lift action of the bridge still functions, allowing the lower rail-carrying deck to lift without disturbing traffic on the upper deck. For larger vessels, both decks can be raised, giving a maximum clearance of 163-ft.

Character Defining Features

Structure type, Location, Decorative railing, Multimodal functionality, Mechanism

Alterations

Major alterations include the addition of a light rail line to the upper deck of the bridge and the addition of a pedestrian bridge on the lower deck.

Bridge Considered Historic By Survey: Yes


This bridge is tagged with the following special condition(s): Unorganized Photos

Divider

Photo Galleries and Videos: Steel Bridge

 

View Photo Gallery

Bridge Photo-Documentation

Original / Full Size Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

Divider

View Photo Gallery

Bridge Photo-Documentation

Mobile Optimized Photos
A collection of overview and detail photos. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

Divider

View Photo Gallery

Additional Unorganized Photos

Original / Full Size Photos
A supplemental collection of photos that are from additional visit(s) to the bridge and have not been organized or captioned. This gallery offers photos in the highest available resolution and file size in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

Divider

View Photo Gallery

Additional Unorganized Photos

Mobile Optimized Photos
A supplemental collection of photos that are from additional visit(s) to the bridge and have not been organized or captioned. This gallery features data-friendly, fast-loading photos in a touch-friendly popup viewer.
Alternatively, Browse Without Using Viewer

Divider

Maps and Links: Steel Bridge

Coordinates (Latitude, Longitude):

Search For Additional Bridge Listings:

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Bridgehunter.com: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

HistoricBridges.org Bridge Browser: View listed bridges within 10 miles (16 kilometers) of this bridge.

2021 National Bridge Inventory: View listed bridges within 0.5 miles (0.8 kilometers) of this bridge.

Additional Maps:

Google Maps

Google Streetview (If Available)

Bing Maps

OpenStreetMap

GeoHack (Additional Links and Coordinates)

Apple Maps (Via DuckDuckGo Search)

Apple Maps (Apple devices only)

MapQuest

HERE We Go Maps

ACME Mapper

Waze Map

Android: Open Location In Your Map or GPS App

Flickr Gallery (Find Nearby Photos)

Wikimedia Commons (Find Nearby Photos)

Directions Via Sygic For Android

Directions Via Sygic For iOS and Android Dolphin Browser

USGS National Map (United States Only)

Historical USGS Topo Maps (United States Only)

Historic Aerials (United States Only)

CalTopo Maps (United States Only)


Divider
 
Home Top

Divider

About - Contact

© Copyright 2003-2024, HistoricBridges.org. All Rights Reserved. Disclaimer: HistoricBridges.org is a volunteer group of private citizens. HistoricBridges.org is NOT a government agency, does not represent or work with any governmental agencies, nor is it in any way associated with any government agency or any non-profit organization. While we strive for accuracy in our factual content, HistoricBridges.org offers no guarantee of accuracy. Information is provided "as is" without warranty of any kind, either expressed or implied. Information could include technical inaccuracies or errors of omission. Opinions and commentary are the opinions of the respective HistoricBridges.org member who made them and do not necessarily represent the views of anyone else, including any outside photographers whose images may appear on the page in which the commentary appears. HistoricBridges.org does not bear any responsibility for any consequences resulting from the use of this or any other HistoricBridges.org information. Owners and users of bridges have the responsibility of correctly following all applicable laws, rules, and regulations, regardless of any HistoricBridges.org information.

Admin Login

Divider