Fremont Bridge

The Fremont Bridge opened in 1973, after construction costs of $82m. According to Answers.com, it is the second longest tied arch bridge in the world, after Caiyuanba Bridge across the Yangtze River, China. The bridge is named for John Fremont, who surveyed the Oregon Trail in the 1840s. Fremont settled in California, was one of that state’s first two U.S. Senators, and ran for the Republican nomination for President in the race won by Abraham Lincoln.

An interesting note regarding the cost of the Fremont Bridge, from Answers.com:

“Due to the public’s dissatisfaction with the appearance of the Marquam Bridge, the Portland Art Commission was invited to participate in the design process of the Fremont. The improvement in visual quality resulted in a bridge that was nearly six times as expensive as the purposely-economical Marquam Bridge.”

Thought for the day: was it worth spending six times as much, for a more visually pleasing bridge?