Sellwood Bridge Facts:Type: Subdivided Warren/Steel Truss
At mile marker: 16.5
Overall length: 1,971 feet
Owner: Multnomah County
Bridge History:
The Sellwood Bridge is the southernmost of Portland's bridges and the only major crossing in a heavily populated 10-mile stretch along the Willamette River.
This 24' two-lane roadway with a sidewalk on the downstream side replaced the Sellwood Ferry in 1925.
It's design is unique because it has four steel deck spans on one continuous truss stretched across its five piers.
It was designed by Gustav Lindenthal and constructed for $541,637.
It is named for the town of Sellwood (settled first by Rev. James Sellwood) which was annexed to Portland in 1893.
For some time now, the size and condition of the Sellwood Bridge has been considered insufficient for people traveling to west Portland from southern east Portland and Milwaukie.
Multnomah County continues to maintain it as best possible while discussions and studies periodically review the possibilities of refurbishing it as a non-vehicular bridge, building a new bridge on site or a new one somewhere further up or downstream.
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