Sauvie Island Bridge

Sometimes on a warm summer day I get that urge, to get in my car and get out of town. Well at least for a little while. If I have the time Seattle or the beach are great choices. If I am pressed for time. I take this bridge to Sauvie’s.
I am a big fan of Sauvie Island, It is a great rural escape from Portland. There are several farm stores, nursuries, parks and beaches. It is also fairly easy to get there, Just take this bridge.
It is a classic looking Oregon bridge, like the ones I grew up with. It is fairly small and short. It doesn’t cross the main part of the river just a narrow part that seems mostly used as morage for house boats.
it is a nice bridge, I like bridges with the big arch. I am also a fan of the renovation. Not only will the bridge last longer now but it looks and feels sturdier. Oh, and I like the new color. Now I just have to wait a few more months until the farms start producing food again!

The Suavie Island Bridge is surprisingly as good as the nearby and highly acclaimed Saint Johns Bridge. The red-​colored wood and the silver cables are arranged in a neat arch which resembles that of a performance art. It is accommodating of a TriMet bus which goes onto the island in addition to cars and pedestrians. Most assuredly, this bridge is a little landmark in itself because it can be seen from lots of the island.
I crossed over the bridge when I was going to Sauvie Island. The colors and the neatness of the wires highly amazed me. It was also short, making it easy to get across. At the island side, they display a humungous map and they have some displays about the history of the bridge. You also can access the Cracker Barrel convenience store to pay the required fee for parking anywhere on the island. Be sure to get your picture next to the bridge and there is grass to help you with that.
There is a fruitful way to get to Sauvie Island in it’s bridge.

Sauvie Island Bridge (2008)
In 1950, the Sauvie Island Bridge was built across the Multnomah Channel to connect Sauvie Island to Oregon. In 2007 construction was started on a replacement bridge, to be finished in 2008. The old was demolished and the new put to work.

YES! I was purposely saving the Sauvie Island bridge for my 100^th review, and it’s finally time to review the literal gateway to my childhood.
What can I say about this Portland landmark? I can say lots of things.
I can say that my dad personally had the biggest hand in commissioning the re-​building of this bridge, approximately 5 years ago.
I can say it was the first bridge I drove over in Portland myself, right as soon as I acquired my driver’s license at 16.
I could also say that i’ve biked over it, skidded over it when it’s been blanketed in black ice, taken boat rides underneath it, and i’ve walked right down the center of the 2-​lane bridge during the grand re-​opening of the sturdier version of the Sauvie Island bridge.
Great memories of this bridge, and only more to come. And it’s sporting a nice shade of burnt orange-​y red, instead of that drab sea green from years ago!

Perfect bridge for me! It is not high above the water and it is a short one too.

A tip of the hat and a salute to the rickety old green bridge that safely got us there and back, for so many good times over the years. Since ’08, of course, big Orange has been in business, and is quite a feat of engineering over the tiny Multnomah Channel (you can catch crappie, salmon, bass, salmon, even the occasional sturgeon in that channel, so don’t turn your nose up too high). However, one star is deducted b/​c when turning onto the bridge, from either direction off of HWY 30, if it is cold out, you can easily lose traction and spin out on the West side of the bridge. Strangely, it’s the only part of the bridge I’ve experienced that… so travelers in off-​season beware! Really slow down when turning onto the bridge, you could easily lose control of your vehicle, and with all the runners/​bikers/​sports enthusiasts (not just me!), that could be no bueno…

I love this skinny little bridge. It carries me over to a little getaway island that’s filled with family and farms that always have something going on every season.