|
Interstate Bridge
Back to Bridges
|
|
Heading South into Portland, Oregon from Vancouver, Washington
takes you across a very interesting bridge... Actually 2
bridges, The interstate bridge moves more than 300,000 cars
a day across its deck |
 |
 |
The original bridge, the one on the left, was completed in
1917, and opened with much fanfare... it was the first
bridge to span the Columbia, and it greatly increased the
amount of trade that could be done between the cities
sitting across from each other.. Vancouver, WA and Portland,
OR. The second bridge was patterned after the old one, so
it'd 'match', when the Interstate was constructed, in the
60's |
 |
|
Visible from quite a distance, the bridge quickly became
endeared to those to live around it... Its quite an
impressive structure. |
 |
 |
 |
 |
There have been several earthquakes in the region since the
bridge was built, but aside from minor repairs, the bridge
has held up quite well. When the second bridge was built,
the first bridge went through an extensive overhaul... both
bridges were gone over with a fine tooth comb, and given a
50-year inspect and replace run-down a few years early,
after the Nisqually quake. |
 |
 |
 |
|
A lot went into building this bridge... it stretched the
technology available at the time it was built. Its held up
well over the years, but at times the drawbridge portion on
the older span gets stuck in the "up" position... not a good
thing for an Interstate! |
 |
 |
|
|
|
|
|
Back to Bridges
|
