If you live in Portland, you know that Portlanders take pride in the city’s bridges. We pedal, drive and walk across them, photograph them, go by boat below them and Portland Public School kids usually replicate them at least once in their student life. There are 12 bridges in all crossing the Willamette River. Each with its own rich history. The annual Providence Bridge Pedal gives Portlanders of all ages the opportunity to ride across some of Portland’s bridges car-free. The ride ends in a celebration atop the Fremont Bridge with great views from the city that you won’t experience anywhere else. We name some of our favorites here but if you haven’t, you should explore Portland’s bridges on your own.
Burnside Bridge
Opened in 1926, the Burnside Bridge is a Bascule (moveable) bridge that allows boats to travel through it. It’s the second bridge in this location. The bridge spans 1,342 feet across the Willamette River. Streetcars trolley buses crossed the Burnside until 1950 and today the bridge serves three TriMet bus routes traveling East and West. The bridge boasts ornate details like decorative railings and two ornate towers. The Burnside Bridgehead has undergone hefty changes in the last few years with new development happening on the east side of the bridge.
Hawthorne Bridge
The Hawthorne is one of our favorite bridges in Portland for its beauty alone. A truss bridge, the Hawthorne was completed in 1910 and is the oldest highway bridge in Portland. It’s also one of the most frequented bridges in Portland by bike commuters, runners, and walkers. The railings were originally designed to keep horses from falling off the bridge.
St. Johns Bridge
The St. Johns Bridge in North Portland’s Cathedral Park neighborhood is a well-known Portland landmark. It’s also one of three suspension bridge in Oregon. Bridge construction began in 1929 and was complete in 1931. It spans 2,067 feet across the Willamette River. The St. Johns bridge has two gothic towers that 408 feet tall. Cathedral Park is located on the east side of the bridge and hosts an annual Jazz festival.
Sellwood Bridge
The new Sellwood Bridge completed construction in 2016. It’s a deck arch bridge that replaced the original bridge built in 1925. It spans 1,971 feet across the Willamette River and connects Sellwood to Oregon 43 on the west side of the river. Before it was replaced, the Sellwood Bridge felt like the oldest bridge in the city. It was in disrepair since the 1960s and two cracks were discovered in the early 2000s.
Tilikum Bridge In Portland. Photo by Steve Morgan
Tilikum Crossing Bridge
The newest of the Portland bridges, the Tilikum is a pedestrian, public transportation, and bicycle bridge. It was designed by TriMet for its MAX Orange line. The Orange line train connects commuters and travelers heading from downtown to the southeast side of the city and Milwaukie. The cable-stayed bridge spans 1.720 feet across the Willamette River. It’s also an excellent source for employees of OHSU traveling from the east side. The design includes a light art lighting system that alters the bridge’s lighting based on the Willamette’s speed, depth and water temp. The Tilikum is a beautiful bridge and worth seeing. Crossing from east to west, you can stop at Flying Elephant’s Deli at the foot of the bridge for yummy soup, sandwiches, salads, and coffee.