Talk:Vista Bridge

Article name
A good faith anonymous editor changed the lead from Vista Bridge to Vista Avenue Viaduct in reference to the NHRP listing. This name is also posted on the placard at the north end of the bridge (see photo). However, I believe the Wikipedia naming convention is to use the most well-known name in such cases. I believe that is "Vista Bridge". —EncMstr (talk) 19:13, 25 February 2009 (UTC)
 * "Vista Bridge" Portland 1680 hits
 * "Vista Avenue Viaduct" Portland 353 hits

"Suicide Bridge"
That is certainly its popular name, to this date. But what's the source for limiting that to the great depression? I know of at least one suicide in the 1980s, which inspired a rock song (released as a single) named "Suicide Bridge." Msalt (talk) 00:03, 11 March 2009 (UTC)


 * I remember Suicide Bridge being used in the 1970s and maybe the 1980s. It could have been in reference to the 1930s—though that wasn't my impression at the time which was that it had become popular again.  In fact the walkways were prominently signed with a suicide prevention counseling hotline phone number.  —EncMstr (talk) 05:44, 11 March 2009 (UTC)


 * A Google search showed many references (in travel guides and the like) that used "Suicide Bridge" as a current term. In fact, I didn't see anything saying it was historical except this Wikipedia page. Msalt (talk) 20:17, 11 March 2009 (UTC)
 * This recent Oregonian article (which ran in the Sunday, February 3, 2013, print edition, p. L1) provides a lot of usable content on this subject, if anyone wants to add some info. to the article (it doesn't interest me enough): Vista Bridge: Is it time to stop the dying at Portland's iconic bridge? (It might merit one paragraph in the article, but likely not more, as the bridge's notability mainly comes from its being NRHP-listed.)  In the print edition, the headline even used 'Suicide Bridge' (within single-quote marks like that) where the online version (now) has "Vista Bridge". SJ Morg (talk) 08:49, 9 February 2013 (UTC)

Older version of bridge was torn down?
I see that the source says that, but I believe that is mistaken. I've always heard that the older bridge was moved (in part or whole) to form what is now the Terwilliger Bridge over Interstate 5 in the Burlingame neighborhood of Portland. Here are a couple of sources:

Bridgehunter.com Isaac Laquedam Any objection to changing to reflect this? Msalt (talk) 04:04, 11 March 2009 (UTC)


 * The first source only says that some parts were used: not that the bridge was recycled or moved.  The second one says that, but he's uncertain and it doesn't look like anyone checked his facts. —EncMstr (talk) 05:50, 11 March 2009 (UTC)


 * There is overlap between the two views -- if the first bridge was removed, and most of it was used to build the one at Terwilliger, they would not necessarily contradict each other. In 1924, there was no option to move the bridge entirely by air, so it would have had to be "torn down" no matter what you did with it.  I have heard the version about the old Vista bridge going to Terwilliger many times over the years, though, so it seems like the phrase "torn down" (implying complete destruction) may be overstated.  Let's keep looking for better sources. Msalt (talk) 20:16, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

I removed any mention of what happened to the old bridge, pending better sources, and mentioned that the street car was serving Council Crest. Msalt (talk) 20:31, 11 March 2009 (UTC)


 * Ahh! I think I see what's going on.  On closer re-reading,  here is how I interpret that original source "Portland Hill Walks": There was a cable car up to Council Crest that was actually built back in 1887, which went up near what is now Cable Avenue (from Mill st. straight up the hill to what is now the south end of the Vista Bridge).  When they built the first version of the Vista street bridge in 1903, they torn down the cable trestle (not the first Vista Bridge).  Msalt (talk) 20:48, 11 March 2009 (UTC)

Two maps?
Does the infobox need 2 maps? --- Another Believer ( Talk ) 15:56, 21 July 2019 (UTC)
 * No, but the second map was not added here by anyone. It just started appearing as a result of someone's change to how the "Infobox bridge" template or wikidata entries with map coordinates function (I am not sure which). I was not sure how to turn off that map, so I looked the talk page for Infobox bridge just now, and I found info. that appears to have worked.  I have disabled the display of the wikidata-generated map in this article now. SJ Morg (talk) 02:27, 22 July 2019 (UTC)