Portland, Oregon – A historic bridge in Portland, Oregon, was closed on Monday morning after a train car derailed and leaned against one of the bridge’s support columns. According to Union Pacific spokesperson Meg Siffring, around 6:15 a.m. local time, approximately five Union Pacific train cars derailed near the east end of the Union Pacific Steel Bridge in Portland.
Fortunately, there were no reported injuries from the incident, and no hazardous materials were involved. Portland Fire and Rescue reported that one train car was leaning against a structural support column, leading to the closure of the entire bridge to all train, vehicle, and pedestrian traffic.
The 111-year-old Steel Bridge is known for its movable, double-decker style, with trains crossing on the lower level and cars passing on the upper level. The bridge also provides space for bicycle and pedestrian traffic, with the flexibility to raise either the lower deck or both decks based on the size of ships passing through the Willamette River.
The closure of the Steel Bridge will remain in effect until its structural stability can be assessed and addressed. Union Pacific engineers were dispatched to the scene to evaluate the bridge’s stability and develop a plan for mitigating the derailment incident.
This derailment in Portland follows another incident in New Mexico, where 35 train cars derailed, leading to evacuations lasting several days. In that case, six of the derailed train cars were carrying propane, but no injuries were reported. The National Transportation Safety Board will be investigating both derailments.
The closure of the Steel Bridge in Portland adds to the ongoing scrutiny over bridge stability, particularly after a cargo ship collision with Baltimore’s Francis Scott Key Bridge resulted in six fatalities. As investigations continue into these incidents, authorities will work to ensure the safety and reliability of bridge structures across the country.