RC121 NovDec 2025 - Magazine - Page 12
INTERNATIONAL PROJECTS
INFRASTRUCTURE EXPEDITION
A tour of projects from around the globe
OREGON, U.S.
THE BRIDGE OF THE GODS
THE PORT OF CASCADE LOCKS selected Parsons to man-
age and provide engineering services for the seismic,
safety and preservation study for the Bridge of the Gods.
The Bridge of the Gods is a steel truss cantilever
bridge spanning 566 metres (1,858 feet) across the
Columbia River between Cascade Locks, Oregon, and
Stevenson, Washington. The original bridge opened in
1926 and was raised in 1938 to accommodate rising
water from the Bonneville Dam’s construction.
This nearly century-old bridge faces potential safety
risks from earthquakes and age-related wear. The study,
funded by a $6-million state grant, will assess seismic
vulnerabilities and develop a long-term preservation
plan, focusing initially on safety improvements like
better lighting.
The bridge is a lifeline for emergency response, local
communities, and Pacific Crest Trail hikers, making seismic resilience a regional priority. The project will also
explore enhancements for pedestrian and bicycle safety.
State legislators support the initiative, which aims to
12—RENEW CANADA – NOVEMBER/DECEMBER 2025
bolster the region’s infrastructure and tourism economy.
Parsons is managing and providing engineering
services for this project, which include conducting field
surveys and geotechnical evaluations, and installing
structural health monitoring sensors.
Engineers will perform seismic and non-seismic
structural analyses to design retrofit solutions and
develop a long-term Bridge Preservation Plan. The
project team will address active transportation improvements and enhance lighting designs. They aim to ensure
the bridge’s safety, resilience, and accessibility while
securing necessary funding for these enhancements.
“At Parsons, our bridge history goes back more than
100 years—and the Bridge of the Gods has been open
for nearly that long. We’re working to assess age—and
seismic-related vulnerabilities and develop a long-term
preservation plan to keep this historic bridge open and
connecting the communities of Stevenson and Cascade
Locks,” said David McCurry, senior program director for
Parsons.
RENEWCANADA.NET
