In a joint venture with Sundt Construction, Inc., Slayden was contracted to replace the original, deteriorating structure with a wider, pedestrian-friendly bridge that could accommodate the area’s growing traffic volume. The project team utilized a bold approach to construct the new bridge without shutting down traffic flow. The approach involved lifting the old bridge deck and truss with hydraulic jacks and moving it to one side, then placing it on a set of temporary piers and connecting it to temporary approach spans so that traffic could continue to use it while the new bridge was constructed. The 1,100-foot-long steel bridge truss was moved in a single 12-hour operation and became one of the longest bridge sections ever to be moved.

  • The new bridge complements the immediate surroundings and features two vehicle lanes in each direction, has two six-foot-wide bike lanes, and two 12-foot-wide sidewalks.
  • The 2,000-foot-long bridge, originally built in 1925, is the community’s only crossing over the Willamette River for many miles in each direction, making it the state’s busiest two-lane bridge as well as an iconic piece of architecture.
  • Named “2017 Project of the Year” and “1st Place Transportation Project” by the Daily Journal of Commerce at the annual Top Projects competition.
  • The Sellwood Bridge is the first registered project in Oregon to pursue Greenroads certification. Greenroads is an independent certification process for sustainable transportation projects similar to the LEED program for buildings.