Portlanders pick the city's best bridge (no shocker here)
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The results shouldn't surprise most Portlanders. Photo: Courtesy of City of Portland
We asked, you answered: The best bridge in Portland is the St. Johns. Is anyone surprised?
The big picture: More than 220 Axios Portland readers voted in our bridge poll earlier this week, and 45% of y'all ranked the Willamette's northernmost span the crowning beauty of our city.
Zoom in: Built in 1931, the 2,067-foot suspension bridge's Gothic church spire-inspired arches became an instant icon, and it remains the city's tallest river crossing at 400 feet.
- Fun fact: Designer David Steinman pushed to have the bridge painted verde green to match Forest Park — not black and yellow, like officials initially suggested.
Zoom out: We also asked readers to weigh in on some fun superlatives.
- Here are those results.
Most likely to make you late
Winner: Marquam
The Marquam is Portland's heavy lifter. More than 140,000 vehicles cross it every single day, making it Oregon's busiest river crossing.
- You've got three major highways — I-5, I-84 and I-405 — coalescing at once!
- She's already hated for the way she looks (the Portland Art Commission called it "so utterly inconsistent with any concept of aesthetics"), so let's give her a break.
What you're saying: "The bridge itself is somewhat scary to drive," reader Dave Dunkak said. "However, the view of the city, especially heading north, is fantastic."
Runner-up: Hawthorne
The underrated gem
Winner: Steel
This is the only active telescoping vertical lift bridge in the U.S., and it is located at the site of the first bridge built with steel in the state.
- Its double decks, each with a 211-foot span, can be moved independently of one another — the only one in the country able to do so.
- While not initially flashy in appearance, Steel makes up for it by being one of a kind.
Runner-up: Hawthorne
The showoff
Winner: St. Johns
We get it.
Runner-up: Tilikum Crossing
Best multimodal experience
Winner: Steel
The Steel's telescoping truss can pull the lower deck (used for passenger and freight trains) into the upper deck to allow for the passage of small- to medium-size boats without stopping the flow of vehicular, light rail and pedestrian traffic up top.
- It's a sight to see whether you're on foot, pushing pedals or cruising by in a car or on the streetcar.
Runner-up: Broadway
The bottom line: Whether our bridges cause you headaches or hold a special place in your heart, they serve as a reminder of what connects our communities and defines our cityscape.