Recording Bridges

Portland, Oregon is a city filled with bridges. This summer I've been taking the opportunity when it presents itself to record the sounds of the many bridges within the city. Why? Who knows... Maybe an all-bridge recordings sound effects library is just what everyone needs? (If anyone would actually be interested in such a thing, let me know!)

Mostly though I've been doing it because I find it fun. Lots of neat recordings have come from it! Cars going across the steel grating of the Hawthorne bridge, the sound of the Max (public transit) rail car going by on the Steel bridge and shaking everything... It's surprising just how close up you can get to a bridge when it's being raised/lowered, and from lots of angles too!

I recently got away from the many bridges over the Willamette River and ventured across the Interstate (I-5) bridge over the Columbia River that separates Oregon and Washington.

On the Washington side I was able to get up close directly underneath the bridge. The rush of many cars going overhead makes for some unique sounds. Give it a listen: