Skip to main content

Oregon State Flag An official website of the State of Oregon »

Project-Details







St. Johns Bridge Repair Project

Construction Phase

Region 1: Portland metro and Hood River County (Portland, Multnomah)


​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​​We are improving the long-term safety and lifespan of the St. J​​ohns Bridge by repairing the concrete on the pier columns and arches under the bridge. Repairing the concrete protects the bridge's steel internal frame and reinforcements from corrosion, maintaining the service life of ​this beloved Portland Historic Landmark.


Impacts

Traffic Impact

  • Pedestrian detours.

The St. Johns Bridge will remain open and minimal traffic, pedestrian and bicycle impacts are expected as construction nears completion in summer 2024.​ ​


Construction Impacts

Cathedral Park Impacts
The concrete on the piers required more work than originally planned. This increased the cost of the restoration work on the piers. We eliminated the repairs of remaining piers from the project scope to stay within the established project budget. There is the possibility of future concrete repair work on the pier columns as a part of a separate project. 

Project work in Cathedral Park started in October 2022 and ends in summer 2024. Cathedral Park remains open during construction. Crews enclose active work areas around the bridge columns with fencing in the park. These areas will close to park users.

The safety of our workers, park users, and travelers is our highest priority. Detours and flaggers may direct people in the park away from work areas. Pathways near pier columns in the park may temporarily close during construction. Park users may hear noise during the day or see construction equipment.

Intermittent work will minimize impacts to summer events in Cathedral Park.


Illustration of the arches and columns under the St. Johns Bridge during construction and after completion.
 Illustrations are not to scale. For informational purposes only.

Visual impacts
Scaffolding exampleCathedral Park is a popular spot for personal and professional photography. Scaffolding and wrapping covers columns ​and arches while work is occurring, impacting views under the St. Johns Bridge in Cathedral Park during construction. Work to repair more than half of the bridge pier columns in Cathedral Park is near complete. 

Wedding impacts
Per Portland Parks and Recreation, wedding permits for the Cathedral Park Staircase and Deck are not available as of October 1, 2022 for the safety of our crews and park users. A simple wedding ceremony consisting of no more than the couple, officiant, and two witnesses is allowed​ on a first-come, first-served basis, as bridge repair work allows. The Cathedral Park Amphitheater is available for reservations as usual. Learn more at portland.gov/parks/wedding.

Pictured: Example scaffolding and wrapping around pier columns within a work area under under the Yaquina Bay Bridge.

Schedule

One pier is currently under repair. We anticipate project completion in summer 2024.

The concrete on several of the piers required more work than originally planned. This increased the cost and time required to do the project work. We have eliminated repairs of a few remaining piers that were in better condition. This allows us to stay within budget and complete work in the park in summer 2024. There could be future projects to repair concrete on the remaining pier columns that were not restored during this cycle. 


Illustration of pier repair schedule in Cathedral Park. The illustration shows the piers numbered 3 through 10 and the order of completion. Pier 3 and 4 are completed; piers 6 and 10 are in progress, and piers 5, 7,8 and 9 are next.

Details

About

Built in 1931, the St. Johns Bridge is a registered Portland Historical Landmark that serves diverse local and regional travelers. More than 22,000 vehicles cross the bridge each day. It is also a popular bike and transit route and is a designated freight route.​

This project follows maintenance work to the steel frame recently completed in 2019.​
Illustration of the Saint Johns Bridge
Illustrations are not to scale. For informational purposes only.

Location

U.S. 30BY |

​The St. Johns Bridge spans the Willamette River connecting Northwest and North Portland. Work will happen on the pier columns and anchor houses under the bridge on both sides of the river, the railing on the east side of the bridge, U.S 30 Bypass (NW Bridge Avenue), and the two N Philadelphia Avenue frontage roads. Cathedral Park is located under the bridge on the eastside.

Cost and Funding

​​$13,284,662 ​

Contractor

Wildish Standard Paving Co.

Benefits

We’re improving the long-term safety and lifespan of the St. Johns Bridge by repairing the concrete on the pier columns and arches under the bridge.​ Repairing the concrete will protect the bridge’s steel internal frame and reinforcements from corrosion, maintaining the service life of this beloved Portland Historic Landmark.

What Problem Will This Improve?

This is the first comprehensive concrete repair since the bridge was built in 1931. After 90 years, the concrete is chipping away and exposing the internal steel frame inside the pier columns.

Chipping concrete under the St. Johns Bridge today.Pictured above: Chipping concrete and exposed steel frame inside the pier columns of the St. Johns Bridge before repairs.​

Other projects in the ar​​ea:

St Johns Bridge Repair Project Website
About: We are improving the long-term safety and lifespan of the St. J​​ohns Bridge by repairing the concrete on the pier columns and arches under the bridge. 

Willamette River Stormwater Improvement Project Website
About: We are preparing to construct stormwater treatment facilities to filter the rainwater runoff from three highways in Portland to protect fish, wildlife, water quality, and public health.

U.S. 30 Culvert Rehabilitation Project Website
About: The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is designing repairs to strengthen and lengthen the life of culverts under U.S. 30 between NW Portland to Scappoose. ​​ ​​



Additional Information

​For ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) or Civil Rights Title VI accommodations, translation/interpretation services, or more information call 503-731-4128, TTY 800-735-2900 or Oregon Relay Service 7-1-1. 

Si desea obtener información sobre este proyecto traducida al español, sírvase llamar al 503-731-4128.

 Если вы хотите, чтобы информация об этом проекте была переведена на русский язык, пожалуйста, звоните по телефону 503-731-4128.
 
如果您想瞭解這個項目翻譯成 繁體中文 的相關資訊,請致電(503)731-4128. 如果您想了解这个项目翻译成 简体中文 的相关信息,请致电503-731-4128.
 
이 프로젝트에 관한 한국어로 된 자료 신청방법 전화: 503-731-4128.

​Nếu quý vị muốn thông tin về dự án này được dịch sang tiếng Việt, xin gọi 503-731-4128.

Contacts & Media

https://www.oregon.gov/odot/Projects/Project%20Images/37899-SJB-CathedralPark.jpg.jpg

Image Gallery

Project Contact

Community Affairs Coordinator
Ellen Waters
Email
Ellen.WATERS@odot.oregon.gov
Phone
971-336-1249
Project Accommodation Request
503-731-4128

Get Project Alerts

Sign up for the newsletter!

Last Updated

6/27/2024 1:38 PM

Project Number

37899

Project Documents

Related documents to this project
37899-SJB-Newsletter-Feb-2022-English.pdfSt. Johns Bridge Repair Project Newsletter, February 2022
37899-SJB-Newsletter-Feb-2022-Espanol.pdfBoletín del proyecto de reparación del puente de St. Johns, febrero de 2022
37899-SJB-Newsletter-Feb-2022-Vietnamese.pdfBản tin, Dự Án Sữa Chữa Cầu St. John, Tháng Hai năm 2022
37899 US 30 Corridor Mailer 12.2023.pdfA mailer with updates on six projects near U.S. 30 and U.S. 30 Byway.