Why does Pearson Field restrict bridge height?
Due to its close proximity to Pearson Field, the height of the replacement bridge must be low enough to allow safe navigable air space for aircraft landing and taking off from the field. The Columbia River Crossing project is working with design options that assume Pearson Air Field will continue to operate as an active air field in its current location. There are several reasons for this: • Pearson is one of the nation’s oldest operating air fields, and, as such, has historical significance and is part of the national historic reserve. • Pearson provides a public service for emergency preparedness. During the 1980 eruption of Mt. St. Helens, the facility was the base of air operations. Air services for Portland Police and Civil Air Patrol currently base out of Pearson. • About 175 aircraft are based at Pearson and the field supports roughly 50,000 air operations per year. An operation is the combination of one take off and one landing. The project and the project’s Urban Design Adviso
