Portland, OR

This iconic bridge is one of the most famous bridges in Oregon because of its incredible beauty and historic significance. It was designed by Robinson and Steinman. David Steinman was one of the most famous bridge engineers of the 20th Century and he specialized in design of suspension bridges.

When this bridge completed, this bridge had the longest span of any suspension bridge west of the Ambassador Bridge in Detroit. The concrete piers of the bridge are unusual for the period in which they were built because they contain solid steel frame reinforcement rather than just reinforcing rods (rebar) which was common during this period.

Arguably one of the most beautiful bridges in the country, this bridge embodies the pinnacle of bridge aesthetics. Its beauty is solely derived from creating structural bridge elements that are themselves beautiful rather than adding superficial decorations to an ugly bridge structure. For example, the distinctive gothic arches in the piers and steel suspension towers of this bridge are attractive, but they also function as part of the actual structure and contribute to the strength and stability of the bridge. The concrete anchorages on this bridge are magnificent works of art... the only other anchorages that come to mind with a similar level of aesthetics are those for the Benjamin Franklin Bridge. The concrete foundations for the main suspension towers are also rather elaborate in architectural detailing.