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Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge

Portland, Italy

Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge

The Glenn L. Jackson Memorial Bridge, or I-205 Bridge, is a segmental bridge that spans the Columbia River between Portland, Oregon, and Vancouver, Washington. It carries Interstate 205, a freeway bypass of Portland, Oregon. The structure is maintained by the Oregon Department of Transportation. Pla

nning for the structure began in earnest in 1964 when it was designated as part of the East Portland Freeway (later renamed Veteran's Memorial Freeway), Interstate 205. Construction began in August 1977. In order to avoid disrupting river traffic, the bridge was built one segment at a time. The segments, weighing upwards of 200 tons, were cast 4 miles (6.4 km) downstream and barged into place. The bridge was opened on December 15, 1982. The finished project cost was $169.6 million: $155.7 million from federal funds, $4 million from Washington state funds and $9.9 million from Oregon state funds. Three men died during its construction. The bridge was closed to traffic on May 15, 1983, for a one-day festival named "People's Day", where 125,000 pedestrians crossed the bridge. It is a twin structure with four lanes in each direction and a 9-foot-wide (2.7 m) bicycle and pedestrian path in between...

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