As the oldest operating vertical lift bridge in the U.S., Portland’s Hawthorne Bridge is prone to frequent closures and repairs.
- Yes, but: Let’s give credit where it’s due.
The big picture: It’s the oldest span across the Willamette and serves as the state’s busiest bicycle and transit route, carrying roughly 800 TriMet buses and 8,000 cyclists daily.
Flashback: The first bridge at the site of the current Hawthorne Bridge was a wooden, spin span named the Madison Street Bridge.
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- After a fire in 1902 burned its east end — and several surrounding buildings — Portlanders acknowledged the need to invest in…