Rating all 12 of Portland’s bridges on a completely arbitrary scale
Portland is known for a lot of things; beer, the world naked bike ride, and being just a little off center, but it is also known for its bridges. So much so, that it garnered the names “Bridge City” and “Bridgetown.”
We have rated all 12 bridges in Portland on a completely arbitrary scale that has more to do with the general vibes of the bridges than anything else. With as little attention as bridges generally get, there’s surprisingly a lot of information about the bridges of Portland, so, for this rating, we’re looking at everything from the history, background information, world records, color changes, and any other fun facts about these beloved structures.
Broadway bridge
It is hard to miss this red bridge in the heart of the city. The bridge was painted its signature “Golden Gate Red” in 1963, giving a nice pop of color to the water line. It allows private vehicles, bicyclists, walkers, and the streetcar to pass over the bridge. It's perfect for taking a stroll from the east side of Portland into the Pearl District and stopping for a nice photo or two against the large red beams.
Be on the lookout for oncoming ships! Broadway’s unique opening system (called a double-leaf bascule) takes up to twenty minutes to open and close for a cargo ship, which is 2-4 times slower than other bridges in the city.
Rating: 8/10. The enclosed top of the bridge is exceptional to drive under, and the red color really makes it pop. The support structures underneath are lacking, as they are just concrete, but overall it is a nice bridge.
Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge 5.1
The oldest bridge in the city is also the one most commonly forgotten. The Burlington Northern Railroad Bridge can only be crossed by train, so if you’ve taken an Amtrak to Seattle, you’re one of the few Portlanders who can say they’ve ever been across it.
When it was completed in 1908, it held the record for the longest swing-span bridge in the world, but was then transformed into a vertical-lift bridge in 1989.
Rating: 5/10. This bridge could have been left off of this list and no one would have ever noticed.
Burnside Bridge
In the middle of downtown you can see distinctive Italian Renaissance towers on either side of Burnside Bridge’s opening. It was the first bridge in the city that was designed with the help of an architect as a result of the City Beautiful Movement of the early 1900’s which emphasized architectural decoration as part of engineering designs.
If you want a photo of the White Stag Sign, Burnside Bridge is the place to go. The bridge has pedestrian paths that give you a direct shot of the iconic Portland sign.
Under the East side of the bridge is an operational skatepark. Under the West side is Tom McCall Waterfront Park and Portland Saturday Market.
Rating: 8/10. While the bridge itself is not a grand sight to behold, the city has embraced it and turned it into a community spot for everyone.
Fremont Bridge
One of the most easily recognizable bridges of the city is Fremont Bridge with its white arch stretching across the Willamette River, topped by two billowing flags. When it was being designed, The Oregon Dept. of Transportation asked the Portland Art Commission for feedback on the design of the bridge, hoping to avoid a similar instance of negative public reaction that was inspired by the completion of the Marquam Bridge in 1966.
Fremont Bridge holds the record as the longest bridge in the state and the second largest tied-arch bridge in the United States.
Rating: 10/10. It is a unique addition to the skyline and easily recognizable from a distance.
Hawthorne Bridge
Ringing in with another record, the Hawthorne Bridge is the oldest vertical-lift bridge in operation in the states. Given its age, the city funded a renovation of $22 Million in the late 90’s. Today it is one of the busiest bridges in the city, carrying about 30,000 cars, 800 TriMet buses, 8,000 bicycles across the Willamette River on a daily basis.
Rating: 7/10. The green with red trim does a lot for this bridge. +1 for pedestrian traffic.
Marquam Bridge
The most uninspired bridge in the city is also the busiest. With an estimated 140,500 vehicles a day, this bridge acts as the artery of the city.
A fun read about the Bridge from the Oregonian: Marquam Bridge lacks beauty and basic amenities but excels in function: 'Spanning Oregon'
Rating: 5/10. This bridge leaves a lot to be desired but it gets people to where they need to be.
Morrison Bridge
The Morrison Bridge we have today is the third bridge of the same name standing in the same spot on the river. This bridge is minimal in architectural decoration, having only two tower-like structures on either side of the opening. But that’s not to say it is completely lost on the aesthetic front. Lights along the sides of the bridge change frequently, giving the facade a little pizzaz. The Willamette Light Brigade installed these unique lights as a way to spruce up the city sky. You can apply to change the colors of the lights to celebrate your special occasion on their website.
Morrison Bridge was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 2012.
Rating: 6/10. It was going to be a 5/10 but the work of the Willamette Light Brigade brought it up by a point.
Ross Island Bridge
The famous engineer Gustav Lindenthal designed this pretty blue bridge about 100 years ago. The name honors Oregon pioneer Sherry Ross and is positioned right next to Ross Island, a natural wildlife area a part of Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge complex.
The bridge has gone through a lot in its time. It was originally painted black and was later repainted to green in 1955. Just a short 6 years later, local architect Lewis Crutcher proposed painting it blue instead.
At the turn of the century, lead paint was discovered and was subsequently replaced. The project was just recently completed in early 2019.
Rating: 8/10. The blue metal underneath is very pretty, but the lower half of this bridge is doing all the leg work (literally and metaphorically.) The top half is just flat and lacks any character, so that brings down the score a little.
Sellwood Bridge
The most recent bridge in the city was completed in 2016 and replaced a bridge of the same name that was used for over 90 years. The bridge has two sidewalks, and two bike lanes for those who want to cross without a car.
The original bridge was constructed to replace the Spokane Street Ferry. It has since become a primary thoroughfare for east side residents to reach Interstate 5, downtown Portland, and Washington County.
When the new bridge was installed, the old bridge was relocated just slightly north and remained passable while the new bridge was being built in its original location.
Rating: 7/10. This bridge looks like a normal, easily forgotten bridge. But the history and effort of moving the old bridge is a huge accomplishment. So while the appearance is lacking, its a neat piece of history for the area.
St. Johns Bridge
One of Portland’s most notable bridges, St. Johns Bridge is a sight to behold. The cathedral-like spires reach into the sky as a monument to decoration for decoration’s sake. It is the only suspension bridge in the Willamette Valley and one of only three public highway suspension bridges in the state.
Like the Sellwood Bridge, St. John’s Bridge replaced a ferry that was used to cross the Willamette. The construction of the bridge began right before the 1929 Stock Market Crash and became a popular employment opportunity for locals during the Great Depression.
Today the bridge is accompanied by Cathedral Park, a popular green space on the eastern end of the bridge that offers great views of the beautiful bridge.
Rating: 10/10. Great design with a beautiful park attached. Pedestrian and bike friendly.
Steel Bridge
Steel Bridge is an icon in its own right. While not flashy or exceptionally pretty, it has become a beloved part of Portland’s skyline throughout its tenure and is the only double-deck vertical-lift bridge of its kind. The lower deck can raise independently of the upper deck for smaller boats, leaving car and tram traffic uninterrupted.
It opened in 1912 and has since adapted to allow almost all types of ground transportation to cross over. Pedestrians, cyclist, and trains can cross through the lower deck, while MAX line trains and cars can cross the upper deck.
Rating: 8/10. This bridge is a one of a kind rockstar that the city has put to good use. Unfortunately, it lacks any sort of visual interest and instead opts for only a nostalgic and utilitarian appeal.
Tilikum Crossing
Nicknamed “the bridge of the people,” this is the newest bridge (that’s not a replacement) to be added to the river. It was opened in 2015 for pedestrians, cyclist, buses, streetcars, and MAX line trains. It was designed to accommodate the rapidly growing number of people using public transportation, walking, and biking, and therefore does not allow cars to pass over.
The word “Tilikum” is Chinook Wawa, and means “people,” “tribe” and “relatives.” The naming committee chose the name as a way to honor the first Oregonians and to build a connection between the past, the present, and the future.
Historian and naming committee chair, Chet Orloff, said the name was selected because the Native American word holds the “most promise to connect the people of our region today with the long past of people who have been here for thousands of years, and to connect with future generations.”
Rating: 10/10. The intentional design, intended use, and name all contribute to the great score. We love that the city is encouraging thoughtful design that promotes less reliance on private vehicles.
