Union Pacific review: Steel bridge tender on the Willamette River in Portland Oregon

Thursday 8-13-26 we approached the Steel Bridge in Portland Oregon at approximately 1:30 PM aboard our sailing vessel Island Girl. We hailed the bridge via VHF channel 13 requesting a bridge lift. After approximately 20 minutes there was no reply. The Hawthorne Bridge tender contacted us and also attempted to raise the Steel Bridge tender via VHF channel 13 as well as by phone. The Hawthorne Bridge tender responded to us via VHF 13 that they could also not reach the Steel Bridge tender. I repeated a hail approximately every 10 minutes with no response. After approximately 45 minutes has passed with no answer I contacted USCG station Portland by phone to ask what we could do. They said they would check and call me back. Over 50 minutes passed with no reply from the Steel Bridge tender. Just as the Coast Guard called back via cell phone, we received a hail from the Bridge Tender. The bridge tender seemed unsorted, mumbled and surprised we had been waiting nearly an hour with no reply. He indicated he had been working. He told us an Amtrac was approaching and he would raise the bridge as soon as he could. At approximately 3:00 PM we received a hail from what seemed to be a different bridge tender from the Steel Bridge who again said he would raise the bridge as soon as he could to the requested height of 40'. After nearly an hour and 45+ minutes the bridge raised and we made our way. I am not certain why our hail was not returned in a timely manner, but it is my understanding that hails should be returned much sooner than that. As a further suggestion, when an opening is delayed after we have heard from the bridge tender it would be useful if they would provide a situation update perhaps every 10-15 minutes, so we are informed of the estimated lift time.