After cracks were found in the 1950 span in 2001, Multnomah County restricted weight and speed on the bridge.[1] Early designs for a new bridge were submitted in July 2004, and groundbreaking was held on January 4, 2006. The new $38 million span was designed by H2L2 Architecture with David Evans & Associates as the design engineers, and built by Max J. Kuney Company. Located at river mile three, the main span is 360 feet (110 m) long and rests 80 feet (24 m) above the water. The main span is of a tied arch design[2] constructed of steel, while the approach spans are a box-girder style using pre-stressed concrete. The bridge has two lanes of traffic with shoulders and sidewalks on both sides for a total width of 66 feet.[1] The bridge was floated into place after it was constructed.[3]
In March 2006, then-city commissioner Sam Adams proposed reusing the Sauvie Island bridge span as a bicycle/pedestrian bridge over Interstate 405 in downtown Portland, as part of the Burnside/Couch Transportation and Urban Design Plan.[4] A coalition of Portland community groups including the Pearl District Neighborhood Association and the Bicycle Transportation Alliance supported the idea.[5] Adams ultimately retracted the proposal, realizing the cost would likely be more than the $5.5 million he had originally stated.[6][7]
The $43 million new bridge opened June 23, 2008.[8] The old bridge was removed in August 2008 and was scrapped at Schnitzer Steel Industries.[9]
Steel tied arch bridge over Multnomah Channel on Sauvie Island Rd.
Built 2008
- David Evans & Associates of Portland, Oregon (Engineering Firm)
- Fought & Co. (Steel Fabricator)
- H2L2 Architecture of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania (Architect)
- Max J. Kuney Co. (Contractor)
The new Sauvie Island Bridge is a steel, tied through arch that is constructed of weathering steel with concrete approach spans. The weathering steel will minimize life cycle costs.
(David Evans and Associates, Project Page)
Length of largest span: 365.2 ft.
Total length: 1,177.2 ft.
Deck width: 36.0 ft.
Vertical clearance above deck: 26.2 ft.
Multnomah Channel Bridge
4,371
OR 20136 (Oregon Dept. of Transportation structure number)
BH 43522 (Bridgehunter.com ID)
Overall condition: Good
Superstructure condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Substructure condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Deck condition rating: Good (7 out of 9)
Sufficiency rating: 68 (out of 100)
View more at BridgeReports.com
Photo Currently Unavailable
New Sauvie Island BridgeSauvie Island Bridge. Oregon. September 1, 2012.A. F. Litt 2012http://columbiariverimages.com/Regions/Places/sauvie_island_bridge.html