Cedar Crossing Covered Bridge

The one and only covered bridge in Multnomah County is not technically a covered bridge. It lacks traditional wood trusses so it is considered a “roofed span”. The 60-foot-long span crosses Johnson Creek on Deardorff Road and was built in 1982 to replace an older bridge that was too narrow.

County Executive Don Clark had dreamed of building a covered bridge in the county for years. At one point he even considered moving a covered bridge from elsewhere. He was quoted in the Oregonian as saying “I’ve always thought they were very picturesque. They look like they belong in Oregon as part of the landscape and examples of a relaxed, more placid lifestyle.”

He got his wish when engineers decided to replace the too-narrow bridge over Johnson Creek on Deardorff Road. While the new bridge was under construction a contest was held in the David Douglas School District to decide a name. Ginell Lamont, a seventh grader at Alice Ott Elementary School, won the contest with her suggestion of “Cedar Crossing.”

Design sketch of covered bridge

The bridge was dedicated on a wet day in January 1982. Don Clark joked with the crowd that “If you’ve ever wondered why they put covers on bridges, if this weather doesn’t tell you nothing will.”

Today the bridge looks much the same as it did when it opened 30 years ago. My photos below, taken in April 2012, show the view from the north end of the bridge, then the south end.

Location of Cedar Crossing Covered Bridge:

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