Bridge Underpasses
Posted by: Portland Place Reviews | From: March 21, 2007
1. Hawthorne Bridge Underpass (west side)
This is a very busy underpass, the busiest one that I visited. There are runners, walkers, families, and bums traveling under thins place. My interviewing skills didn't help me to get a single person to stop what they were doing to talk to me. Many people had iPods in running, and I didn't feel like talking to any of the homeless, who looked like they were sleeping or already talking with other people.
2. I405 Underpass, Corbet Ave. (west side)
The only thing this underpass gets is vehicles. NO foot traffic whatsoever. A cool place to do graffiti, although there is none to be found. I knew about this place because to get to my friend's house, getting off the streetcar requires that I walk under this bridge. I believe the bridge going over the underpass is the beginning of Naito Parkway.
3. US99 to US 26 junction (west side)
Of all the underpasses, this is my favorite. It is a underpass I go under to get to a 7-11 by my girlfriends house.
Interview
Me- Do you have any good stories about this underpass?
Her- No, not really.
Me- Really? we use this thing a lot and it seems like you should have some stories about it.
Her- Well, we always get those awesome taquito things. oh yeah and um... well, I remember you getting "gatorade."
Me- (laughs) Oh yea? You dont think that thats a good story?
Her- Not for your art class, no.
Me- C'mon! They are a bunch of curious people and I am sure they are totally interested in the Gatorade story.
Her- Then they are just going to have to ask.
(end)
4. Across the street from number 3.
It's approximately 1 am and I am drunk. So are the two guys I run into. I am heading to 7-11 and they have bags full of assorted shit.
Me- Hey!
Them- Huh?
Me- I gotta talk to you guys.
Them- (look at each other un assured, then size me up)
Dude 1- For what?
Me- My art class.
Dude 1 & 2- laugh
Dude 1- What? We gotta go.
Me- Dude c'mon what the fuck! Im not a serial killer I just need to talk to you about this underpass.
Dude 2- Get the fuck away from us!
Dude 1- We gotta get back to the party.
Me- fine.
So that interview didn't go so well, but I really think had I not said serial killer or tried to talk to them about a scary ass part of an underpass it could have happened. I would bet that if i had talked to them on the other side of the street they would have had no problem talking to me. Its weird how much different the other sides of underpasses are, even if they are only crossing a street.
5. Steel Bridge Underpass (west side)
There is construction going on all around this underpass and it is really noisy with all the cars going over it. There is a parking lot adjacent to the under pass with a few cars in it. At about 8:13 PM, this place is not poppin' off. Business types hurrying to their cars because they are either late or see me being kinda sketchy under the bridge. I think that being under a bridge is sort of like having tattoos or being black, people for no reason are intimidated to talk to you.
Post a comment:
those are some great drawings and stories. Keep on keeping on!
Posted by: bridge warrior at March 21, 2007 9:14 PM