St. Johns Bridge
| St. Johns Bridge | |
|---|---|
 |
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| Coordinates | 45°35′06″N 122°45′53″W / 45.58508°N 122.76477°WCoordinates: 45°35′06″N 122°45′53″W / 45.58508°N 122.76477°W |
| Carries |
  US 30 Byp.
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| Crosses | Willamette River |
| Locale | Portland, Oregon (St. Johns, Northwest Industrial District) |
| Maintained by | Oregon Department of Transportation |
| Heritage status | Portland Historic Landmark |
| Characteristics | |
| Design | Suspension bridge, Gothic |
| Total length | 2,067 feet (630 m) |
| Height | 400 feet (120 m) |
| Longest span | 1,207 feet (368 m) |
| Clearance below | 205 feet (62 m) |
| History | |
| Opened | June 13, 1931 |
 St. Johns Bridge
Location in Portland, Oregon
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The St. Johns Bridge is a steel suspension bridge that spans the Willamette River in Portland, Oregon, USA, between the St. Johns neighborhood and the northwest industrial area around Linnton. It carries U.S. Route 30 Bypass. It is the only suspension bridge in the Willamette Valley and one of three public highway suspension bridges in Oregon.
The bridge has two 408 feet (124 m) tall Gothic towers, a 1,207 feet (368 m) center span and a total length of 2,067 feet (630 m). The adjacent park and neighborhood of Cathedral Park, Portland, Oregon are named after the Gothic Cathedral-like appearance of the bridge towers. It is the tallest bridge in Portland, with 400 feet (120 m) tall towers and a 205 feet (62 m) navigational clearance.
Designed by internationally renowned engineer David B. Steinman (1886–1960) and Holton D. Robinson, of New York, the St. Johns was the longest suspension-type bridge west of the Mississippi River at the time of construction. It is the only major highway suspension bridge in the Willamette Valley and one of only three major highway suspension bridges in Oregon.
At the time of the proposal to build the bridge, the area was served by a ferry that carried 1,000 vehicles a day. The proposal for a bridge was initially met with skepticism in Multnomah County, since St. Johns and Linnton were over five miles (8 km) from the heart of the city, and local business owners had minimal political clout. But after a lobbying effort that included a vaudeville-style show performed at grange halls and schools throughout the county, voters approved a $4.25 million bond for the bridge in the November 1928 elections. Initially, a cantilever bridge was proposed, but a suspension bridge was selected due to an estimated $640,000 savings in construction costs.
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