#roughcuts

Bridge Video Dialogue/Narrative

Broadway Dialogue:

    Designed by Ralph Modjeski, the Broadway Bridge opened up for use in 1913. Connecting Northwest Portland to Northeast Portland with a 1,600 foot span, it is used every day by thousands of commuters. The bridge is surrounded by a grain silo, a sports arena (MODA Center), a post office, a train station, and various other governmental entities. These locations attract a crowd that differs from that of the Burnside clientele. The area is home to a small portion of the city’s houseless population and a hub for people entering the city via train and charter bus. The majority of locations on both sides of the bridge offer practical services, creating a primarily mobile population within the area. Within the near future, the area is projected to experience change through the further development of the city to accommodate its current growth. The post office is expected to move, leaving 32 acres available for future development.

Burnside Dialogue:

    Designed by Ira Hedrick and Robert Kremers, the Burnside bridge opened up for use in 1926. Spanning 1,400 feet, it connects West Portland to East Portland, and is the divide between the North and South sides of the city. Over the past few decades, the area surrounding the bridge has transformed vastly. The area on the East side of the bridge has primarily served as an industrial warehouse community. With freight lines running through area, it has long been used to house various products and industrial materials. Amongst this industrial commotion, the Burnside Skatepark began rooting into the area in 1990, taking over a parking lot under the East side bridge head. The park has blossomed into one of the world’s most distinguished DIY skateparks. Within the past two decades, the bridge and the park have experienced a lot of change due to the growth of the city. The development of the area has threatened the thriving culture within it, and the future of the skatepark is shaky because of it.

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