CogKnoSys

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Physical

St. Johns Bridge

The St. Johns Bridge is a steel suspension bridge over the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, and the tallest bridge in the city.

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The idea

The St. Johns Bridge is a steel suspension bridge that crosses the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, connecting the Cathedral Park neighborhood in North Portland with the Linnton neighborhood in Northwest Portland and carrying the U.S. Route 30 Bypass. In a suspension bridge, the roadway hangs from enormous cables that are draped over tall towers and securely anchored at each end, so the towers and anchorages carry the weight of the traffic above the water.

The bridge has a center span of 1,207 feet and a total length of 2,067 feet. Its two towers rise 400 feet, making it the tallest bridge in Portland, and the deck leaves 205 feet of navigational clearance for ships traveling underneath. The towers and supports are decorated with Gothic arches, the pointed arches typical of medieval cathedrals, and the neighboring park and neighborhood, Cathedral Park, are named after that distinctive design.

The bridge takes its name from St. Johns, the community at its eastern end, which was originally an independent city before Portland annexed it. It is the only suspension bridge in the Willamette Valley and one of only three public highway suspension bridges in the state of Oregon.

Check yourself

Question 1 of 2

What are Cathedral Park and its neighborhood named after?

Pick one. The first pick counts.

Composition

what it's made of

  • Towers — Two 400-foot towers whose Gothic arch design gave Cathedral Park its name.
  • Main cables — In a suspension bridge, the main cables carry the deck's weight to the towers and the anchors at each end.
  • Center span — The 1,207-foot stretch between the two towers.
  • Road deck — The roadway that carries the U.S. Route 30 Bypass across the river.
  • Navigational clearance — 205 feet of open space under the deck for passing ships.

Connection

how it relates

Under Lower Columbia Bridges and Transportation

In place

  1. Willamette Riverstrength 90 of 100

    The bridge spans the Willamette River in Portland.

  2. Portland, Oregonstrength 70 of 100

    The bridge links two Portland neighborhoods: Cathedral Park in North Portland and Linnton in Northwest Portland.

Related

  1. Metals and Alloysstrength 50 of 100

    The bridge is built of steel, an alloy made mostly of iron with a little carbon.

Change

how and why it evolves

Past
Portland annexed St. Johns in 1915, and the bridge named for that community was dedicated on June 13, 1931. After a long repair project, the bridge was rededicated on September 17, 2006.
Now
In 2022 the Oregon Department of Transportation began repairing the bridge's worn concrete support columns, work expected to finish in 2026.
Next
Like any older steel bridge that carries highway traffic, it will likely need ongoing maintenance and occasional upgrades. Its tall Gothic towers will probably keep it a well-known sight on the river.

Knowledge you can walk. Read the idea, then step up, across or down.

St. Johns Bridge

The St. Johns Bridge is a steel suspension bridge over the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, and the tallest bridge in the city.

See it on the map

Learn, discuss, create, buy or invest

The idea

The St. Johns Bridge is a steel suspension bridge that crosses the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, connecting the Cathedral Park neighborhood in North Portland with the Linnton neighborhood in Northwest Portland and carrying the U.S. Route 30 Bypass. In a suspension bridge, the roadway hangs from enormous cables that are draped over tall towers and securely anchored at each end, so the towers and anchorages carry the weight of the traffic above the water.

The bridge has a center span of 1,207 feet and a total length of 2,067 feet. Its two towers rise 400 feet, making it the tallest bridge in Portland, and the deck leaves 205 feet of navigational clearance for ships traveling underneath. The towers and supports are decorated with Gothic arches, the pointed arches typical of medieval cathedrals, and the neighboring park and neighborhood, Cathedral Park, are named after that distinctive design.

The bridge takes its name from St. Johns, the community at its eastern end, which was originally an independent city before Portland annexed it. It is the only suspension bridge in the Willamette Valley and one of only three public highway suspension bridges in the state of Oregon.

Check yourself

2 quick questions, instant feedback.