Fremont Bridge (Portland, Oregon)

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The Fremont Bridge is a steel tied-arch bridge in Portland, Oregon, that crosses the Willamette River. It carries Interstate 405 and U.S. Route 30, connecting downtown Portland with North Portland. The bridge has two decks with four lanes each: the upper deck carries westbound US-30 and southbound I-405, while the lower deck carries eastbound US-30 and northbound I-405. It is about 2,150 feet long, with the main arch span around 902 feet.

The bridge was designed by Parsons, Brinckerhoff, Quade and Douglas and built by Murphy Pacific Corporation. While under construction, a 6-foot crack in a girder led to a $5.5 million redesign and repair. Fremont Bridge opened on November 15, 1973, at a cost of about $82 million. In 1976, two 15-by-25-foot flags were added atop the arches for the U.S. Bicentennial.

It has the longest main span of any bridge in Oregon and is one of the world’s longest tied-arch bridges. Designers worked with the Portland Art Commission to give the bridge a more attractive look. The site was once used as a peregrine falcon nesting area; the falcon is now listed as least concern. The bridge and nearby Fremont Street are named after John C. Frémont, an early explorer and military officer.