Clackamas River Bridges: Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge

…Continued from Interstate 205 Bridges.

Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge on February 20, 2010

The last bridge over the Clackamas River until the town of Carver is this Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge.

Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge on February 20, 2010

This bridge replaced the one that used the tall concrete piers at High Rocks.

Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge on February 20, 2010

This bridge was completed in 1955 as part of a railroad realignment related to the construction of Interstate 205.

Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge on February 20, 2010

The deck girders of the bridge were painted with the name of its owner in large lettering, which is now rarely seen.

Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge on February 20, 2010

The Interstate 205 Bridges block the view of the railroad bridge from the west.

Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge on February 20, 2010

The bridges are close together and about the same height, so it is hard to see the railroad bridge from I-205.

Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge on February 20, 2010

On the east, trees block almost all the views along Clackamas River Drive.

Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge on February 20, 2010

The Southern Pacific Railroad was taken over by the Union Pacific Railroad in 1996, so the lettering is now out of date anyway.

Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge on February 20, 2010

If there was any doubt that this is still an active railroad bridge, here is proof, shot through the trees along Clackamas River Drive. This train was moving very fast.

Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge on February 20, 2010

There are several more bridges further up the river, however they are more spread out and the next one is not for several miles. I may add more of these bridges in the future.

This concludes the original content of my Clackamas River Bridges PLACES page. To see any additional blog entries about bridges, click on the Bridge label.

Clackamas River Bridges: Interstate 205 Bridges

…Continued from Former Railroad Bridges.

Interstate 205 Bridges on February 20, 2010

Easily viewed from High Rocks are the bridges carrying Interstate 205 over the Clackamas River.

Interstate 205 Bridges on February 20, 2010

These bridges were completed in 1962 as one of the earliest sections of I-205.

Interstate 205 Bridges on February 20, 2010

The southbound bridge on the west is 608 feet long and the northbound bridge on the east is 578 feet long.

Continue to Southern Pacific Railroad Bridge…

Clackamas River Bridges: Former Railroad Bridges

…Continued from 82nd Drive/South Washington Street/Park Place Bridge.

Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

Next are an abandoned pair of tall concrete bridge piers at a popular (and dangerous) swimming area called High Rocks.

Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

These piers originally carried a Southern Pacific Railroad covered bridge.

Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

Later, the covered bridge was replaced by a two-span parallel chord through truss bridge.

Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

This bridge was replaced by the current railroad bridge just upstream as part of a realignment of the railroad that occurred in the late 1950s.

Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

The railroad was moved in preparation for the construction of Interstate 205, which started here in the early 1960s.

Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

Just upstream and still at High Rocks are the remains of the first railroad bridge across the Clackamas River, which was completed here in 1869.

Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

The original bridge washed out within a year and was rebuilt on these same piers.

Old Railroad Bridge Piers on February 20, 2010

Continue to Interstate 205 Bridges…

Clackamas River Bridges: 82nd Drive/South Washington Street/Park Place Bridge

…Continued from Portland Traction Company Bridge.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

An Indian-operated ferry once crossed the Clackamas River near here.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

The first bridge across the Clackamas River was a toll bridge that opened in 1853 where this bridge is now.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

The original wood wagon bridge washed out in 1856 and was soon replaced by a parallel chord steel through truss bridge.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

The current bridge at this location was completed in 1921.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

This bridge is known by a variety of names, depending on one's perspective.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

It is called the 82nd Drive Bridge after the street in Gladstone that leads up to it on the west side.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

It is also known as the Old 82nd Avenue Bridge, as 82nd Drive was once the route of the major artery.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

It is also known as the Park Place Bridge, after the neighborhood on its east side, and as the South Washington Street Bridge, after the street that leads up to it on the east side.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

The bridge is 385 feet long, with a 220-foot main span.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

The State Highway Commission transferred the bridge to the City of Gladstone in 1962.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

The narrow bridge was closed in 1977 and reopened to pedestrians and bicycles only in 1986.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

The bridge was transferred to Clackamas County Service District #1 in 1998.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

The bridge was damaged by a transient's campfire on August 14, 2006 and was temporarily closed.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

The bridge reopened on Thanksgiving Day, November 27, 2008.

Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

A public art project called Bridge Charms, created by Dale Wilhelm and James Schmidt, was installed on the bridge and dedicated by the Clackamas County Board of Commissioners on behalf of Clackamas County Service District #1 for the citizens of Clackamas County on August 28, 2009.

Old Bridge Pier at the Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

Right next to the bridge on the upstream side are the remain of some bridge piers from the second bridge at this location, a parallel chord steel through truss bridge that replaced the original wood wagon bridge.

Old Bridge Pier at the Park Place Bridge on February 20, 2010

Continue to Former Railroad Bridges…

Clackamas River Bridges: Portland Traction Company Bridge

…Continued from Dr. John McLoughlin Memorial Bridge.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

The East Side Railway opened the first interurban electric railroad in the United States between Portland and Oregon City on February 16, 1893.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

This 290-foot bridge was part of that rail line, though the 260-foot main span is the second to be located here.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

The East Side Railway went into foreclosure in 1901 and became the Portland City & Oregon Railway, which then became the Oregon Water Power and Railway Company, which combined with the Portland Railway in 1906 to become the Portland Railway, Light & Power Company. It was now also Portland's only streetcar company as well an electric utility company. The name changed to Portland Electric Power Company (PEPCO) in 1924. It would become Portland General Electric in 1948.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

Historical Photo:
PEPCO Interurban Car on the Bridge (Dave's Electric Railroads)

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

The streetcar lines were renamed the Portland Traction Company in the 1930s and in 1946 the interurban lines became the Portland Railroad & Terminal Division of the Portland Traction Company.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

The streetcar lines shut down in 1950 and passenger service on the interurban lines ended in 1958, though freight service continued with diesel locomotives.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

In 1962, the Portland Railroad & Terminal Division of the Portland Traction Company was sold to the Southern Pacific and Union Pacific Railroads but retained its name.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

The line between Golf Junction in Sellwood and Oregon City, including this bridge, was abandoned in August of 1968.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

The bridge remained in place, unused. It was still owned by the Union Pacific Railroad, despite the fact that the tracks that once led up to it on either side had been gone for decades.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

It would seem to have been a good candidate for conversion to a pedestrian bridge, but reportedly the railroad had shown no interest in selling it.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

By 2013, the abutment foundation on the east end of the bridge was being noticeably eroded by the Clackamas River. Removal of the bridge was already being considered when, on March 6, 2014, the abutment was observed to have significantly shifted, visibly twisting the structure of the span. With the potential danger of an uncontrolled collapse, on March 9, crews intentionally pulled the main span down into the river from the east end and began dismantling it.

Portland Traction Company Bridge on February 20, 2010

Continue to Portland Traction Company Bridge…