.gif)
Broadway Bridge (Portland)
Encyclopedia
The Broadway Bridge is a bascule bridge
that spans the Willamette River
in Portland
, Oregon
, U.S. It was the first bascule bridge built in Portland and the longest in the world at the time of its completion. It is the longest Rall-type bascule bridge still in existence.
engineer
Ralph Modjeski
. The bridge was opened on April 22, 1913 at a cost of $1.6 million. Because it was to be the world's largest bascule bridge, there was competition between the patent holders of the Strauss, Scherzer, and Rall type bridges. The Rall type was selected for the Broadway Bridge because of cost, but the more complicated rolling lift mechanisms of the Scherzer and Rall types eventually lost favor to the simpler fixed-trunnion bascules such as the Chicago and Strauss.
The bridge carries two lanes of vehicle traffic in each direction and has an 11 feet (3.4 m) wide sidewalk along each side. As of 2001 the bridge carried 27,000 vehicles per day and opened for river traffic around 25 times per month. It is also one of the main bridges for bicycle traffic crossing the Willamette in Portland, with over 2,000 daily bicycle crossings. It is painted Golden Gate red,
also known as international orange
.
Because it is such a complicated bridge, there have been frequent repairs to the structure and mechanics of the bridge. In 1948, the concrete deck was replaced with steel grating. During 1982, access for bicyclists was improved by an $18,000 signal and sidewalk upgrade. In order to improve access and reduce energy costs, the sidewalks and lighting were replaced in 2000–2001. The Lovejoy Viaduct was removed in 1999 as part of the $10 million construction of the shorter Lovejoy Ramp that opened in September 2001. A $28 million renovation began in February 2003. Included in this was the replacement of steel grating with a fiber-reinforced polymer composite material called DuraSpan, made by Martin Marietta Materials
. The renovation was completed in February 2005.
Starting July 6, 2010, the bridge was temporarily closed to all traffic (closure started on July 19 for pedestrians and bikes) for two months, to permit the laying of streetcar
tracks for an extension of the Portland Streetcar
system. The bridge reopened (two of four lanes) on September 4. Streetcars had previously crossed the bridge, from the time of its opening in 1913 until 1948, but the original tracks and wires had since been removed.
Untraceable
. In the film, FBI agent Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane
) becomes stranded on the east end of the bridge after an online serial killer
hacks into her car's computer. The scene was filmed both on the actual bridge as well as on a sound stage
.
In the 2001 film Bandits
(Joe Blake, played by Bruce Willis
) and(Terry Collins, played by Billy Bob Thornton
) are driving
across the Broadway Bridge when their stolen car runs out of gas. Both men leave the car
on the bridge, but when terry returns with gas he finds the police surrounding their car.
Terry turns around trying not to draw attention to himself and descends a set of stairs on
the west side of the bridge and walks onto Naito parkway where he is hit by Kate Wheeler(Cate Blanchett
)
driving a speeding car.
Bascule bridge
A bascule bridge is a moveable bridge with a counterweight that continuously balances the span, or "leaf," throughout the entire upward swing in providing clearance for boat traffic....
that spans the Willamette River
Willamette River
The Willamette River is a major tributary of the Columbia River, accounting for 12 to 15 percent of the Columbia's flow. The Willamette's main stem is long, lying entirely in northwestern Oregon in the United States...
in Portland
Portland, Oregon
Portland is a city located in the Pacific Northwest, near the confluence of the Willamette and Columbia rivers in the U.S. state of Oregon. As of the 2010 Census, it had a population of 583,776, making it the 29th most populous city in the United States...
, Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, U.S. It was the first bascule bridge built in Portland and the longest in the world at the time of its completion. It is the longest Rall-type bascule bridge still in existence.
History and description
The designer of the bridge was AmericanUnited States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
engineer
Engineer
An engineer is a professional practitioner of engineering, concerned with applying scientific knowledge, mathematics and ingenuity to develop solutions for technical problems. Engineers design materials, structures, machines and systems while considering the limitations imposed by practicality,...
Ralph Modjeski
Ralph Modjeski
Ralph Modjeski was a Polish-born American civil engineer who achieved prominence as a pre-eminent bridge designer in the United States.-Life:...
. The bridge was opened on April 22, 1913 at a cost of $1.6 million. Because it was to be the world's largest bascule bridge, there was competition between the patent holders of the Strauss, Scherzer, and Rall type bridges. The Rall type was selected for the Broadway Bridge because of cost, but the more complicated rolling lift mechanisms of the Scherzer and Rall types eventually lost favor to the simpler fixed-trunnion bascules such as the Chicago and Strauss.
The bridge carries two lanes of vehicle traffic in each direction and has an 11 feet (3.4 m) wide sidewalk along each side. As of 2001 the bridge carried 27,000 vehicles per day and opened for river traffic around 25 times per month. It is also one of the main bridges for bicycle traffic crossing the Willamette in Portland, with over 2,000 daily bicycle crossings. It is painted Golden Gate red,
also known as international orange
International orange
International orange is a color used in the aerospace industry to set things apart from their surroundings, similar to safety orange, but deeper and with a more reddish tone.-International orange :...
.
Because it is such a complicated bridge, there have been frequent repairs to the structure and mechanics of the bridge. In 1948, the concrete deck was replaced with steel grating. During 1982, access for bicyclists was improved by an $18,000 signal and sidewalk upgrade. In order to improve access and reduce energy costs, the sidewalks and lighting were replaced in 2000–2001. The Lovejoy Viaduct was removed in 1999 as part of the $10 million construction of the shorter Lovejoy Ramp that opened in September 2001. A $28 million renovation began in February 2003. Included in this was the replacement of steel grating with a fiber-reinforced polymer composite material called DuraSpan, made by Martin Marietta Materials
Martin Marietta Materials
Martin Marietta Materials is in the aggregate, chemical, and composite material business. It is the second largest producer of crushed stone, sand, and gravel in the United States behind Vulcan Materials Company. It is a leading U.S. producer of magnesia-based chemical products used as additives...
. The renovation was completed in February 2005.
Starting July 6, 2010, the bridge was temporarily closed to all traffic (closure started on July 19 for pedestrians and bikes) for two months, to permit the laying of streetcar
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
tracks for an extension of the Portland Streetcar
Portland Streetcar
The Portland Streetcar is a streetcar system in Portland, Oregon, that opened in 2001 and serves areas surrounding downtown Portland. It is currently a single line that is almost long and serves some 12,000 daily riders, but a second line is expected to open in 2012.As with the heavier-duty MAX...
system. The bridge reopened (two of four lanes) on September 4. Streetcars had previously crossed the bridge, from the time of its opening in 1913 until 1948, but the original tracks and wires had since been removed.
In popular culture
The Broadway Bridge is prominently featured in the climax of the 2008 film2008 in film
This is a list of all major films made in 2008.-Highest-grossing films:Please note that following the tradition of the English-language film industry, these are the top grossing films that were first released in the USA in 2008...
Untraceable
Untraceable
Untraceable is a 2008 American thriller film starring Diane Lane, Colin Hanks, Billy Burke, and Joseph Cross. It was directed by Gregory Hoblit and distributed by Screen Gems...
. In the film, FBI agent Jennifer Marsh (Diane Lane
Diane Lane
Diane Lane is an American film actress.Born and raised in New York City, Lane made her screen debut at the age of 13 in George Roy Hill's 1979 film A Little Romance, starring opposite Sir Laurence Olivier. Soon after, she was featured on the cover of Time magazine...
) becomes stranded on the east end of the bridge after an online serial killer
Serial killer
A serial killer, as typically defined, is an individual who has murdered three or more people over a period of more than a month, with down time between the murders, and whose motivation for killing is usually based on psychological gratification...
hacks into her car's computer. The scene was filmed both on the actual bridge as well as on a sound stage
Sound stage
In common usage, a sound stage is a soundproof, hangar-like structure, building, or room, used for the production of theatrical filmmaking and television production, usually located on a secure movie studio property.-Overview:...
.
In the 2001 film Bandits
Bandits
Bandits is a 2001 American crime-comedy drama film directed by Barry Levinson. It stars Bruce Willis, Billy Bob Thornton, and Cate Blanchett. Filming began in October 2000 and ended in February 2001. It helped Thornton earn a National Board of Review Best Actor Award for 2001...
(Joe Blake, played by Bruce Willis
Bruce Willis
Walter Bruce Willis , better known as Bruce Willis, is an American actor, producer, and musician. His career began in television in the 1980s and has continued both in television and film since, including comedic, dramatic, and action roles...
) and(Terry Collins, played by Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton
Billy Bob Thornton is an American actor, screenwriter, director and musician. Thornton gained early recognition as a cast member on the CBS sitcom Hearts Afire and in several early 1990s films including On Deadly Ground and Tombstone...
) are driving
across the Broadway Bridge when their stolen car runs out of gas. Both men leave the car
on the bridge, but when terry returns with gas he finds the police surrounding their car.
Terry turns around trying not to draw attention to himself and descends a set of stairs on
the west side of the bridge and walks onto Naito parkway where he is hit by Kate Wheeler(Cate Blanchett
Cate Blanchett
Catherine Élise "Cate" Blanchett is an Australian actress. She came to international attention for her role as Elizabeth I of England in the 1998 biopic film Elizabeth, for which she won British Academy of Film and Television Arts and Golden Globe Awards, and earned her first Academy Award...
)
driving a speeding car.
External links
- Multnomah County: Broadway Bridge
- Willamette Light Brigade
- "Broadway Bridge" at Centuries Since the Day