Sunday, February 1, 2015

Willamette River Bridges: Morrison Bridge

IMG_7018 Morrison Bridge in Portland, Oregon on June 10, 2007
Morrison Bridge on June 10, 2007

The first Morrison Bridge was a wooden truss swing span bridge that was completed on April 12, 1887. It was Portland's first Willamette River bridge and was the longest bridge west of the Mississippi. The drawbridge was operated manually by two men on calm days or four men on windy days.

IMG_7019 Morrison Bridge in Portland, Oregon on June 10, 2007
Morrison Bridge on June 10, 2007

The original Morrison Bridge was originally a toll bridge, charging for a one-way crossing 15¢ for a horse-drawn rig, 20¢ for a team of horses and 5¢ for a pedestrian. The bridge became toll free in 1895, putting the Stark Street Ferry out of business.

IMG_7054 Morrison Bridge in Portland, Oregon on June 10, 2007
Morrison Bridge on June 10, 2007

The second Morrison Bridge was a swing bridge that was built in 1905.

IMG_7055 Morrison Bridge in Portland, Oregon on June 10, 2007
Morrison Bridge on June 10, 2007

The current Morrison Bridge was completed on May 24, 1958.

IMG_0794 Morrison Bridge from the OSV Bold in Portland, Oregon on May 30, 2008
Morrison Bridge on May 30, 2008

The bridge is the largest mechanical device in Oregon, with 36-foot tall gears driving 940-ton counterweights in the piers.

IMG_0795 Morrison Bridge from the OSV Bold in Portland, Oregon on May 30, 2008
Morrison Bridge on May 30, 2008

The six-lane bridge includes a 284-foot draw span and two 238-foot steel deck truss spans.

IMG_3370 Morrison Bridge & Plaque in Tom McCall Waterfront Park in Portland, Oregon on September 7, 2008
Morrison Bridge on September 7, 2008

The bridge was named for John L. Morrison, a Scottish immigrant who built the first home on Morrison Street.

Bridge Type: Chicago-style double-leaf bascule
Completed: May 24, 1958
Designed by: Sverdrup/Parcel, St. Louis, MO
Moffat, Nichols & Taylor, Portland, OR
Substructure Construction: Manson Construction & Engineering
Superstructure Construction: American Bridge Division of the U.S. Steel Co.
Total Length: 760 feet
Draw Span Length: 284 feet
Width: 90 feet
Closed Vertical Clearance: 69 feet
Construction Cost: $12.9 million
Owned by: Multnomah County

Historical Photos:
View showing Old Morrison Bridge (Portland Waterfront History)
First Morrison Bridge (Portland Waterfront History)
Postcard View of 1st Morrison Bridge (Portland Waterfront History)
Postcard View of Old Morrison Bridge (Portland Waterfront History)
Postcard View of Old Morrison Bridge (Portland Waterfront History)
Postcard View of Old Morrison Bridge (Portland Waterfront History)
Postcard View of Old Morrison Bridge (Portland Waterfront History)
Old Morrison Bridge (Portland Waterfront History)
Old Morrison Bridge (Portland Waterfront History)
Old Morrison Bridge, 1892 (Portland Auditor's Office)
Postcard View of old Morrison Bridge (Multnomah County Genweb)
Postcard View of old Morrison Bridge (Multnomah County Genweb)
Approach to old Morrison Bridge (Oregon Historical Society)
Aerial View of Morrison Bridge, c.1930 (Oregon Historical Society)
Approach to Morrison Bridge, 9/11/1942 (Salem Public Library)
View of end of Morrison Bridge, c.1950 (Salem Public Library)
Old Morrison Bridge, circa 1950 (Salem Public Library)
Morrison Bridge during the 1964 Flood (ODOT History Center)
Aerial View of Morrison Bridge, 1974 (Oregon Historical Society)

IMG_3362 Morrison Bridge Bicycle & Pedestrian Path Plaque in Portland, Oregon on June 5, 2010
Morrison Bridge Path Plaque on June 5, 2010

A separated path for bicycles and pedestrians was completed along the south side of the bridge in 2010. The dedication plaque for the Morrison Bridge Bicycle and Pedestrian Path is shown here. The path is dedicated in memory of Gary Michael Tipton, who was killed by a drunk driver while riding his bicycle across the Morrison Bridge in 1997, and Lynda Pilger, who was killed by a speeding driver while walking her dog on the Morrison Bridge in 2004.

IMG_3354 Portland Spirit & Morrison Bridge in Portland, Oregon on June 5, 2010
Morrison Bridge & Portland Spirit on June 5, 2010

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