Oregon City Bridge, Steel through arch road bridge in Oregon City and West Linn, United States
The Oregon City Bridge is a steel through arch structure spanning 745 feet (227 meters) across the Willamette River with a main span of 360 feet (110 meters). The construction provides 49 feet (15 meters) of vertical clearance and connects Oregon City with West Linn.
The Oregon City Bridge opened on December 28, 1922, replacing an 1888 pedestrian cable-suspension bridge that remained in use during construction, supporting men, materials and the arch assembly. Conde McCullough, designer of some 500 Oregon bridges, gave it obelisk pylons and Art Deco piers. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2005 and rehabilitated in 2010–2012.
The bridge's concrete surface was chosen by designer Conde McCullough, whose detailing appears in obelisk pylons with sconced light fixtures, ornate railings and Art Deco piers. The deck widens at the piers where stairways once led down to public restrooms; repeated vandalism closed them in 1937 and the entrances were sealed with concrete.
Traffic flows across the bridge via Oregon Route 43 and the structure underwent modernization between 2010 and 2012 to improve load capacity. Crossing on foot is possible and offers views of the river and surrounding areas.
The bridge is Oregon's only structure coated in gunite, a sprayed concrete that shields the steel from corrosion caused by industrial emissions in the area. This protection system was applied specifically due to the chemical exposure of the surrounding environment.
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