TriMet project means bike detour around Esplanade
Posted by Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor) on June 11th, 2009 at 4:31 pm
bikes only through this section
(and more) of the Esplanade path.
- Detour map below -
(Photo © J Maus)
It's the opening day of Pedalpalooza and summer bike season is getting underway. Unfortunately, TriMet needs to partially close a section of the highly trafficked Eastbank Esplanade starting this Monday (6/15).
Here's the official word from TriMet:
Bike traffic on the Eastbank Esplanade between the Hawthorne Bridge and SE Caruthers Street will be temporarily detoured to SE Water Avenue Monday, June 15, through Thursday, June 18, 2009.
In preparation for the Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Project’s new bridge over the Willamette River, crews will be collecting geotechnical samples along the riverbank using heavy equipment.
Cyclists can dismount and walk through the work zone, but we recommend following the detour route instead to avoid delays.
Check out the official detour map below the jump...
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Remember, folks, that this project will get us two 12-foot bike lanes across the Willamette in the not-so-distant future.
RecommendedActually, I think the latest might be two 14-foot wide paths..
RecommendedThat Stretch I ride daily.
Tri Met would do well to remind autos and trucks along that route that not only is the speed limit 20mph, but it's far safer to remain behind bikes than try and pass between the center islands & bike lane.
I ride in the lane,near posted speed. past OMSI. it's like Ainsworth - no room to pass for anything larger than a sub-compact. I's a very short distance, but dangerous for bikes.
Cars speed thru there, Ross Isl cement trucks, fruit and semi's are all guilty of passing me within inches when I use the route lane.
Be Seen, and Take the lane. it's legal if you stay near posted speed.
Remember the Axiom. If a driver can stuff itself where it has no buisness.
they will.
Peace
RecommendedJonathan, can you explain why "collecting geotechnical samples along the riverbank using heavy equipment" allows people to continue to walk along the path but not ride? It makes no sense to me.
And, Steven J (#3) is right: The key to making the detour work is to prevent auto traffic from passing unsafely in the 20mph no-passing zone where they have created the bike detour. Drivers do this all the time and it is illegal and dangerous.
RecommendedDJ (4), I can answer your question:
I work for Portland Parks and have been working with TriMet on this project. They are going to have a large truck (drilling rig) parked on the trail, in order to collect samples critical to the eventual light rail bridge. The truck will not block the entire trail, so pedestrians and trail users who really don't want to use the detour can walk around it. (Children, inexperienced cyclists, etc.) However, because there are trees in the way that we (Parks) won't let TriMet cut down for a three-or-four-day job, they can't get their truck far enough off the trail to make it safe for 3,000 cyclists a day to be moving in both directions, at high speeds. Hence the detour option.
Thanks for the post, Jonathan. Please all help publicize to your friends.
kasandra.griffin@ci.portland.or.us
Recommendedoh no..3 whole days of inconvenience.
what....ever....will...I..do...!!?
seriously folks? seems some here just want to complain about whatever they can...
RecommendedWhat are you talking about?
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