Steel Bridge of Portland

In Portland, the Steel Bridge crosses the Willamette River and connects Old Town and Chinatown to the Lloyd District.

 Why is it called the Steel Bridge?  Because of all the metal?  Because it’s scary to drive on during snow, sleet, and rain?  Or when it is freezing outside?

 No.

 “Steel Bridge” was the name of the previous bridge, built in 1888.  What we now call the “Steel Bridge” was built in 1912 to replace that bridge.  The replacement bridge was given the name of the original bridge.

 Why was the first bridge called the “Steel Bridge?”  At the time, 1888, most metal bridges were built of wrought iron.  The new bridge used steel – very unusual in the nineteenth (19^th) century.

 When a tall ship or boat goes up or down river, the center of the Steel Bridge goes up like a large elevator.  By contrast, the Broadway Bridge swings open on two giant pivots or hinges, with the middle entirely open to sky.

 Getting on the Steel Bridge is kind of tricky.  On MLK Boulevard in the Lloyd District, there is a blue sign that points to the Steel Bridge.  In Portland’s Chinatown, I didn’t see a similar sign.  Obviously, I missed it (humor).

 The Steel Bridge has two decks.  On the top deck, cars travel in opposite directions on each side of the bridge – outside the metal structure.  There is just one lane each way.  Outside each traffic lane are two narrow sidewalks for pedestrians.  Inside the metal structure in the middle of the bridge, are tracks for light rail (mass transit).

 The regular railroad travels on the bottom deck, as well as most bicycles.  I have to walk across it soon (instead of driving) so I’ll see if I can walk there and what it is like.

 What’s interesting is that the bottom deck can telescope into the bottom of the top deck.  That means you could close the bottom without closing the top.  In fact, it is the only bridge in the world where the top and the bottom work independently of each other.

 It is the only bridge like it in the entire world.  It is unique.