Portland’s City Council gave a green light Thursday to a long-sought neighborhood request. The vote designates the bridge linking the east and west sides of Southeast Portland’s Brooklyn area as the Brooklyn Bridge. Council members approved the measure without dissent.

The Transportation and Infrastructure Committee had forwarded the proposal after a presentation earlier this month. That session highlighted the bridge’s role in tying together the community while crossing the busy Union Pacific rail yard below.

Brooklyn Action Corps, the local neighborhood association, spearheaded the effort. Council documents show the group launched the push last year. They gathered more than 60 resident signatures in support.

Alex Amend, a Brooklyn resident, submitted written testimony that drew laughs from city leaders. Amend praised the structure’s understated appeal. “While NYC’s version screams for attention with its granite towers and historic suspension cables, ours possesses the quiet, Pacific Northwest confidence of a structure that knows it’s essentially just a generous overpass,” Amend wrote.

Amend contrasted the views from each. New York’s iconic span offers the Statue of Liberty. Portland’s delivers a freight train often stalled and blocking traffic. “It is gritty, it is industrial, and unlike its East Coast counterpart, it is not in New York,” the testimony continued.

District 1 Councilor Angelita Morillo championed the signage. Her office will allocate $2,000 for labor and materials. New signs should appear by June or July, Morillo said.

The resolution goes further. It tasks the city administrator and the transportation bureau with partnering the Brooklyn Action Corps on a celebration. Details remain pending.

Residents see the name as a nod to local identity. The Brooklyn neighborhood has long embraced its industrial edges and community ties. This bridge, built for function over flash, now carries a moniker shared with one of America’s most famous landmarks.

Portland’s version lacks the Gothic arches and cables of its New York namesake. Completed decades ago as a utilitarian overpass, it handles pedestrian and vehicle traffic daily. The rail yard beneath adds to the working-class vibe.

Neighborhood leaders expressed relief at the approval. The Brooklyn Action Corps had lobbied steadily since last year. Their petition drive showed broad backing among locals.

Morillo’s office confirmed the budget covers all costs. No additional city funds will be needed. Installation timelines align with summer weather for optimal work conditions.

The naming fits a pattern of community-driven projects in Portland. Recent efforts have focused on parks, streets and transit hubs. This one celebrates a key connector in Southeast Portland.

Drivers and walkers alike will soon spot the new designation. It promises to spark conversations and smiles. For Brooklyn residents, it’s a small but proud win.