[THEPOSTMILLENNIAL] Portland has honored iconic "Simpsons" character Ned Flanders by naming a brand new bridge after him. The bridge, serving pedestrian and cycling traffic, will be called the Ned Flanders Crossing.
Thereby demonstrating the level of seriousness the world has come to expect of Portland.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation wrote on Facebook that: "Today, it is hereby proclaimed that Flanders Crossing will be henceforth named NED FLANDERS CROSSING"
The plaque on the bridge shows Ned Flanders waving and smiling, saying "hi-diddly-ho, neighborinos!"
"Flanders Crossing, a pedestrian and bicycle bridge spanning Interstate 405, connects two iconic Portland neighborhoods — the Pearl District and the Northwest District — by reconstructing the historic street grid in Northwest Portland via NW Flanders Street."
The PBOT wrote that the crossing "honors the historic Flanders name, celebrates the Alphabet District's east-west street grid, and eases wayfinding for travelers in the area."
The PBOT claims that Ned Flanders is "a beloved cartoon character in modern cultural history," and that it was created by Portlander Matt Groening.
Groening was into the new bridge, the city said, noting that Portland has many unofficial streets and places named for Simpsons characters. 
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