The eastbound tunnel through Vista Ridge is complete and carrying traffic in this 1969 aerial photo. The westbound tunnel would be completed the following year. This is the city-side view, looking west.
(City of Portland Archives)
Tag Archives: I-405
Interstate 405 Construction, c1965
Looking west from the SW 1st Avenue overpass, construction crews are digging deep to excavate the I-405 freeway circa 1965. The Travelodge over on SW 4th is clearly visible here, as are other still extant buildings. You can see an aerial view of the overall area here.
(City of Portland Archives)
Stadium Freeway Demolition, 1964
What looks like a swath of tornado damage in the lower center of this 1964 image actually shows the beginning of demolition for the Stadium Freeway (I-405). Many more blocks will fall to the wrecker as the freeway turns north and cuts between SW 13th and 14th on its route to Northwest Portland. For orientation, we’re looking northwest with the diagonal SW Broadway between Lincoln and Grant Streets at the very bottom.
(City of Portland Archives)
Fremont Bridge Center Span, 1972
The component parts for the main span of the Fremont Bridge were built in California but the final assembly was done on Swan Island, as shown here. It would be lifted into place on March 16, 1973, connecting the east and west banks of the Willamette River. At the time it was the heaviest lift, at 6000 tons, ever completed, and it is the second longest tied arch bridge in the world. Here’s a photo of the east and west ramps under construction, before the center span lift.
(City of Portland Archives)
Vintage Portland 