Ross Island Bridge

The Ross Island Bridge is just okay. It has some beautiful scenery surround it and lots of bus service, but it sometimes requires a short wait in the neighborhood to drive to it from the westside. Crossing the bridge is pedestrian friendly and there is something to be said of the proximity it has to much of downtown.
I have gone through this bridge by transportation of all sorts. It is near lots of freeway terrain, but that can sometimes be the problem. It is above average for pedestrian use and I loved seeing the trees and the hill which near the big hospital. Waits depend on the time of day, but it is still nice that this bridge was built.
The Ross Island Bridge is another option in Portland.

still there after all these years. my go around everything traffic.

This bridge is a mile long. It’s four lanes. It’s better than the Sellwood in terms that you don’t feel like it might collapse under you at any second. It’s probably not a good idea to walk along the cement sides because if the wind blows you could fall off. (yes, did this once, fortunately I fell toward the sidewalk and not towards the water.) I also do not recommend doing cartwheels on the ledge unless there is zero wind, you have excellent balance, and you are not inebriated in any way (hence the fall.)
There is a big gorgeous historical house at one end. It’s called Paulson house. There used to be one on each side of the East end of the bridge, owned by brothers.
If you are on this bridge and decide it’s a nice day for a swim, don’t do it. Hitting the water from this level is like landing on cement and you will break enough bones that you wont be able to swim to shore before you drown (I didn’t try this but I witnessed it.)
The Willamette is no longer safe to swim in anyway.

I wonder how many times I’ve crossed this bridge? I think it might perhaps number somewhere near or over in the thousands. After all Ross Island Br (as the road signs refer to it) and I have both been around for awhile, both of us products of SE Portland. Riding across the bridge headed East is packed with memories of my dad’s family (many of them still live in and around Powell on the way to the bridge) and heading west meant most likely taking a trip on out to glamorous Lake Oswego. If I’m not mistaken, President Franklin Roosevelt and wife Eleanor Roosevelt crossed this bridge in an enormous touring car on their way to dedicate Timberline Lodge, which some of my uncles helped construct, and my dad remembered standing out on the playground at Kellogg School and waving to the President as he motored by.
The bridge is surprisingly wide, four lanes, but even with that the traffic can be wicked bad and even scary. It’s only when traffic is light that things flow fairly well, but don’t hold your breath, anything can happen and does; there are no turnouts or much of anything to get out of traffic should accidents happen. Entering and exiting on the west side of the bridge is a breathtaking experience; you sort of throw yourself and your car out into traffic and hope for the best. Entering and exiting on the east side is somewhat easier and not so harrying.
The City of Portland did some renovations a few years ago and the bridge does look better and feels safer. For awhile it looked like the cement was sort of rotting away from its support structure, and you were never sure if the whole bridge one day was going to collapse. However, I don’t know why this bridge has never scared me the way a lot of the other bridges in Portland do. It should really make me feel the way I used to when crossing the old Sellwood Bridge (white knuckled, breath holding, you understand).
Nowadays I don’t get over on that side of town much, but riding the bus over the bridge is a great trip into the past, but now even more into the future when you look over and see the new Tri-​Met Bridge heading out to Milwaukie. I’m glad Ross Island Bridge and I have our history together and that we’ve both been able to enjoy the changes that have occurred and are still occurring.

You frustrate me, Ross Island Bridge. Why is there always so much traffic on you? So much waiting. One time I waited for what seemed like forever and right when I reached the bridge my car broke down. Then I was the reason there was so much traffic. Sorry guys.
I also have a bad association with the actual Ross Island, so I don’t like seeing that thing.
Hmm, sounds like personal problems, you say. But you have to admit, it’s not like the Ross Island is one of the best Portland bridges out there. We have so many good ones and this one just isn’t one of them.

If you want to feel like a daredevil with your soul gripping on to dear life, get into the left lane going either direction and gun it. You may even find religion praying no car speeding past you sneezes and swerves a few inches into your lane. Sure, try enjoying the view to the left or right — but you will die. And if you are lucky to be a passenger, the view is nice if you can stop clenching the door handle. But when you cross, it’s like Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. But you didn’t choose wisely. Its a handy bridge if you live in SE, but I avoid it if possible. Plenty of merging to be had by all but once you get the hang of it, you know what to expect.

eh. This silly little bridge.
All my years taking the 9 bus I never understood why everyone hates this bridge. I actually had a buddy take the extra 10+mins to take the Hawthorne bridge instead.
the past cpl years its the construction of the newest bridge, er, crossing, um. rail thingy. Tilikum Crossing.
Well. Now I drive. A car. I now I know why everyone always made a face or sighed as if a reminder of a past lover and a broken heart. No one likes the
R.I.B. oooh riiiibs. Anyways…
Yes, this bridge can be a little bitch. Trailers, hitches, slower drivers, people that have to break every 22 ft is what really grinds my gears when I’m on this
1926 beauty. Basically it needs to be avoided if at all possible during rush hour. Period.
Heading West on Powell. You have the High School, at 26^th = ditzy teenagers who are too busy texting, flopping their hair over one eye, or walking as slow as humanly possible. Ugh.
Lots of traffic, with nearby Wendys, Burgerville and McGmO’s. Also, keep in mind there are a few crosswalks to keep a look out for. Powell is NO place to be in a hurry. No matter the time of day. Heads up, The crosswalk right over the ‘hill’ at the McDonalds is NOTORIOUS for speed traps. hmmm, maybe Ill see if there is a spot for a Powell review…
patience and looking at the tubes in the sky make this a bit more barable :)

Sweet I can write a review about a bridge? Awesome.
I actually like the Ross Island for reasons that many people in Portland wouldn’t probably understand. I have lived in Portland off and on since I was 10. I am 38 now and find Portland traffic to be awful. I find myself berating drivers that decide to cross two lanes of traffic so they don’t have to wait in line to get on the 405 off of 6^th.
Then I go over the Ross Island during rush hour… a bridge that at one time (and may still) has had the worse intersection for getting into accidents and I see… I see… I see Portlanders being nice to each other. They are ones that are getting on the bridge Eastbound from the major route (Naito going south), they are stopping to let both the Kelly and the Naito north routes and letting them «zipper» in… it is beautiful.
So as bridges go it might not be the nicest or the easiest but it does give me hope and after all with the now 13 bridges that will span the Willamette making me choose is like making me choose my favorite kid.

Ross Island Bridge (1926)
I drive this bridge to and from work 5 days a week. It can be hard to get on to but there are a few tricks. The traffic can be brutal during rush hour but even that can be cool when your stuck on the Ross Island Bridge. You get a really cool view of Portlandia

Yippee. for the exit only lane that allows me to get across quickly.
Boo. that it’s taking me to work.
Boo. that it’s always backed up on my way home.
Yippee. that I made it across without falling to my death.
Sometimes, I actually take the Ross to go somewhere else on the west side. More often than not, this bridge is connected to work. No, I’m not bitter. I swear.

Dear Ross Island Bridge — I do not like you. Yes, the lady who smammered the rear end of my friend’s vehicle whilst we were driving here was likely driving too fast, and slid into us on the wet pavement. But your crappy design DID NOT HELP!
Plus traffic on you sucks.
No love, me (and my back).

scary bridge, not particularly charming nor does it provide much of a view of anything because you’re too busy trying to get the hell off it. I’d sooner walk across the Sellwood Bridge as horrific as that bridge is. ah! I still give it an A-​OK because I like bridges and it’s just doing it’s job for goodness sake and it’s better than nothing. :D

I’m giving it three stars because I’m superstitious, and I don’t want to piss her off. But getting on from the west side sucks on a bike, in a car, on your feet. You sometime have to risk your life just to get on it. And those 3 stop sign intersections are crazy. Have a nice day.

Oh, bridge. I love you. And I hate you. And you get me where I need to go quicker than most every other bridge simply because I live so blasted close to you… so long as I’m heading west across the water. If I attempt to cross you eastbound in anything resembling rush hour, or inclement weather, or a sunny day, or the middle of the night or… well. Abandon hope, all ye who enter here, and be prepared to spend a significant investment of time in getting on the bleeding bridge in the first place.
Some day, I shall take a photo of you in all of your river and road arching magnificence. And then I may burn said photo, depending on how much time I’ve spent trapped on you of late.

It is what it is! An old bridge with poorly planned roads to and from it. You shouldn’t blame the bridge. 90% of Oregon’s roads are poorly planned! No change foreseen anytime soon.
It does help me get from SE to NW quicker than any other route at any time of the day.

I have had terrifying recurring dreams about this bridge for a long, long time. It’s always some variation of this:
Driving West on Powell, get on the bridge. Speed up. In the middle of the bridge, there’s a giant hole. Everyone drives straight into the hole and plunges to a watery death into the Willamette below.
Yet, it gets me from my house to downtown lickety-​split. Or from my house to Barbur Blvd. And for that, I really can’t complain, night terrors aside.

Why 5 stars for this convoluted, jacked up piece of concrete straddling the two banks of the Willamette? Because for the first time in my life, the Ross Island Bridge is the only thing separating me from my wonderful uncles. What once took a six hour plane ride now takes a ten minute drive.
So maybe the RIB really doesn’t deserve 5 stars. Depending on the time of day, probably closer to a two or a generous three. Still, it now holds a very special place in my heart.
Thanks RIB!

I have a sneaking suspicion that the city planners who designed the on-​ramps to this bridge were probably high on shrooms at the time (I mean, turn left here, turn right here, ooo stop sign, now turn right, now yield… is that really necessary? Seriously?).
However, I have to give props to Ross Island Bridge. It has turned my commute into something that I can file under T for Tolerable instead of S for Soul-​Sucking.
P. S. Banfield-I’m not sure what vortex you exist in that forces everyone that drives on you between the hours of 3−6pm to act like a complete douchebag, but I sincerely hope you can get out from under it soon. Until then, I will do everything in my power to avoid you.

As I drove north on I-​5 from Tigard, I thought: «I’m a man of adventure with time to spare. Why not try the most dangerous thrill ride in Portland?»
At Johns Landing, I took a deep breath and felt a tingle in my fingers as I pointed my iron steed towards the entrance sign; the one that said «Highway 26» on it.
It began with deceptive simplicity: A long straightaway with a stoplight at the end, like a municipal drag racing track. The first nervousness settled into my stomach as I sat at that light: What was I getting myself into?
But there was no time for second thoughts. The light turned green. I opened the throttle.
I wish I could truthfully say I remembered what happened next. I wish I could say I was brave. But all I remember is a jumble of adrenaline and tire screech and engine roar; the taste of sweat; the scent of fear; and, above all, the turning, turning, turning.
And then, it was over. The narrow, crumbling straightaway of the Ross Island Bridge filled my vision. I had made it. No dents. No injuries. No ending up in Beaverton.
I’m not a religious man by nature. But if you have a god, then I say to you, pray tonight; pray for those who have to take that infernal ride every day… at rush hour.
For those about to turn, we salute you.

Ok, I went back and forth on this one (get it?). I live on the eastside and I work in Tigard (and go to school on the Westside too).On one hand, I rely on the RI daily to get me across the Willamette. In that respect, it deserves a few stars. It hasn’t crumbled, sank, or otherwise failed in its primary purpose of keeping cars and trucks out of the river. On the other hand, this bridge vexes me daily. I have a 40 minute commute to get home. Only about 20 – 25 minutes is spent on either side of the bridge. The rest of the time is spent getting onto and inching across the damn thing. In that respect, it gets negative stars.
What the hell is up with the access on the west-​side? To get there from the freeway, you have to complete 450 degrees worth of turn, making a 180 off the freeway onto the southbound access ramp, then another 180 onto a residential street, then another 90 degrees to a stop sign that drops you right into bridge traffic. Who the HELL designed that!!! Why am I in gridlock on a tiny residential street in front of someone’s house? It’s gonna be a long f’ing summer if I have to spend 1/42’d of my day on this bridge in the heat with no car AC.
The eastside seems to have it down a bit better, with the majority of access onto Powell before Powell simply turns into the bridge. Getting across in the morning heading westbound is much, much smoother. Still, for some reason, Portland drivers need to slow down to a snail’s pace on the bridge, when there is nothing more than mere congestion! In LA, the bridge would be that congested, but people would be driving 90!!!
So, I just can’t decide. The fact that I have crossed the damn thing 2 times a day for months now and it hasn’t fallen into the river with me on it is a major plus… I’m talking, like, 4-​stars for the engineering. But seriously, the access? Especially on the westside?!? I give that shit a –3, when combined with engineering = 1 star.
Take that, you damn bottleneck!