Two rivers wind through Portland, Oregon: the north-flowing Willamette, separating the city into East and West Portland, and the mighty Columbia, the fourth largest river in the US, which divides Oregon and Washington. Portland is called Bridgetown for a reason: the twelve bridges crossing these rivers (each an example of a unique architectural style and six that must open for tall sailboats and giant cargo ships) are a vital part of life for most Portlanders.
This month several Portland bridges are celebrating their “birthdays” – the Sellwood (1925), Glenn L. Jackson aka I-205 (1982), Hawthorne, Ross Island (1926) and Oregon City (1922) bridges all opened in mid to late December. Though there is no technical reason why bridges would be finished at the same time of year, Portland’s bridges seem to near completion in the winter months.
The bridge anniversaries are reminders of the importance of bridges in the lives of Portlanders, but they also stand as testaments to the work that still needs to be done. Many bridges could use some maintenance, and in the case of the Sellwood Bridge*, a lot of it. Though all of the bridges are safe, some could use paint jobs and fixes that would keep them operational for a longer period of time.
*Construction on the new Sellwood Bridge begins on Friday! The finished bridge will no doubt improve Portland area commutes and accessibility to more great Portland Real Estate. Stay tuned to the McDonald Group Realtor blog for more updates!
There’s also good news for folks that use the Morrison Bridge: The Morrison Bridge, which was closed all summer, has opened two lanes in each direction during December. Construction has been halted to allow for the lane openings, though it will resume during the first week of January.
_______________________________
YourRoadMapToHome.com is your resource for McDonald Group Realtors, Portland’s premiere real estate agents. Find new construction, foreclosure/short-sell updates and Portland neighborhood info, as well as search properties easily here.