Two bridges over the Willamette River

Today let us look at two interesting bridges that cross the Willamette River.

Marquam Bridge,1043 feet (318.2 metres) long, is a double deck cantilever bridge that carries Interstate 5 traffic across the Willamette River south of downtown Portland, Oregon. It is the busiest bridge in Oregon, carrying 135,900 vehicles a day as of 2008. The upper deck carries northbound traffic; the lower deck carries southbound traffic. (Look at the photos at Top Left and Bottom Left)

Hawthorn Bridge is the second-oldest bridge that crosses the Willamette River in Portland. Built in 1910, it is also the oldest vertical lift bridge in the entire country, allowing river vessels access up and down the waters . The colour of Hawthorne Bridge is forest green, with red railings and counterweights. Before it was repainted recently, it was beige. The original color of the bridge was black. (Look at the photos at Top Right and Bottom Right)

Hawthorne Bridge normally carries approximately 30,000 motorists across it daily. The bridge, due to its low clearance, must raise the drawbridge quite often, though lifts are not allowed during rush hour.