TriMet re-opens Esplanade path under Tilikum Bridge (photos)

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Some of the first riders to ever travel on the new section of path under the Tilikum Bridge on the east side of the Willamette River.
(Photos by J. Maus/BikePortland)

After a 14-month closure, TriMet re-opened the Eastbank Esplanade path (which some are calling the Eastside Greenway Trail) between OMSI and SE Caruthers Street this afternoon. The new, 14-foot wide path begins just south of OMSI, goes under the Tilikum Crossing Bridge and then back up to Caruthers just south of the Portland Opera headquarters.

I rolled over today for a closer look.

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The view of the bridge’s underbelly is really cool. (This is PBOT project manager Theresa Boyle.).
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The clam-shaped “curved abutment wall” is where the sonic dish will be installed.
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Looking north from Portland Opera building.
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The new section of path is quite nice. The area under the bridge reminds me of being under the Morrison Bridge; but without all the freeway noise and without any structures constraining the path. The wide plaza area under the bridge features a decorative design in the pavement and the wall will eventually include a tiled, public art featured called the “sonic dish.”

PBOT’s Theresa Boyle said during a tour of the site today that the dish is meant to “enliven the spaces under the bridge” by reflecting the sounds of the Willamette River and maintain the artistic concept that the bridge itself is a living, breathing thing. Boyle said the art will be completed by August.

For those traveling north-south in this area, the new bike lanes and other bike access changes made to Water Avenue last year as part of the detour plans will remain in place. That means you’ll have two options. Faster riders might prefer the on-street bike lanes of Water Ave. while others might prefer that multi-use path environment closer to the river.

Eventually, we’ll be able to connect from this new path up to the bikeways on the Tilikum Bridge, but it’s not slated to open until September of 2015.

TriMet rendering of new ramp (red arrow) that will eventually lead from this path up to the bridge deck.

— Learn more at via TriMet’s official announcement.

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car owner and driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, feel free to contact me at @jonathan_maus on Twitter, via email at maus.jonathan@gmail.com, or phone/text at 503-706-8804. Also, if you read and appreciate this site, please become a supporter.

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reader
9 years ago

Sweet!

Psyfalcon
Psyfalcon
9 years ago

Is the bike access to the bridge deck supposed to happen at the same time as the transit? I noticed on their timeline they have a months scheduled in for training, which presumably people walking and riding won’t need….

Dave Miller
Dave Miller
9 years ago
Reply to  Psyfalcon

A little birdie told me that they wanted to open it for every mode at once so that people don’t get used to walking or riding it without trains present. The birdie also said they are ahead of schedule and under budget and are trying to add some features that were previously cut for time/budget.

TonyT
TonyT
9 years ago
Reply to  Dave Miller

We should all have such informed birdies!

Reza
Reza
9 years ago
Reply to  Dave Miller

The replacement Gideon Street ped bridge is back?!

Dan
Dan
9 years ago
Reply to  Dave Miller

Funny, when the pavement was done for the Bethany widening they opened all lanes for cars before it had been striped for bike lanes. No concern there about cars getting used to the road for a couple of months without bikes present. The minimal-size bike lanes were only added at the very end.

paikiala
paikiala
9 years ago
Reply to  Dan

same ‘they’ or different ‘they’?

Dan
Dan
9 years ago
Reply to  paikiala

The royal they.

Joseph E
9 years ago
Reply to  Dave Miller

Dave, is there any chance they could open for peds/bikes at the same time they start non-revenue service? I know that rail lines usually have 1 to 4 weeks of full-time operations, without passengers, before opening for people to ride. The trains would be operating on a normal schedule during that time, so it would make sense to have bikes and pedestrians using the bridge.
In fact, the Trimet train operators should not “get used to it” without walkers and cyclists present!

Jayson
Jayson
9 years ago
Reply to  Joseph E

That’s a nice thought, but not practical, or desirable, from TriMet’s point of view, I suspect. Putting untrained MAX, bus, and streetcar operators on a new part of the system with the public seems like a disaster waiting to happen. This isn’t like a new roadway opening. There’s many conflicting movements and operating procedures that probably need to be worked out. As much as I’d like to start using it today, I’ll gladly wait til it’s safe and sound. Perhaps we should hope the training is completed early rather than trying to insert ourselves into the mix.

Psyfalcon
Psyfalcon
9 years ago
Reply to  Jayson

How many conflicts do they have planned? I can’t find anything about the connections on each side.

I mean the Hawthorne Bridge, you never cross the path of any cars.

Reza
Reza
9 years ago
Reply to  Psyfalcon

Not sure if this was in sarcasm, but westbound bikes and peds cross the ramp from Naito Parkway southbound and the ramp to OR 99E southbound along the viaduct.

Psyfalcon
Psyfalcon
9 years ago
Reply to  Reza

Eastbound, you can exit to the Springwater without crossing traffic. Same with the Waterfront Park path.

Yes, there are some crossings if you continue either east or west.

Reza
Reza
9 years ago
Reply to  Reza

Sorry, I meant eastbound but you’re right. If you’re sticking to the MUPs you don’t have to cross traffic there.

Dave Miller
Dave Miller
9 years ago
Reply to  Joseph E

Joseph, I have no idea but if the birdie alights on my shoulder again, I’ll ask.

q`Tzal
q`Tzal
9 years ago
Reply to  Dave Miller

Was the “textured” bike lane entirely nixed?
It would be just the sort of “popular” amenity to return unannounced.

CaptainKarma
CaptainKarma
9 years ago
Reply to  q`Tzal

Referring to the “singing bridge” feature? Enquiring minds would like to know!

Kevin Wagoner
Kevin Wagoner
9 years ago

This confirms my commute route tomorrow morning. Cool news.

GlowBoy
GlowBoy
9 years ago

Me too. Would have ridden it home if I’d known. Nice to finally have the mandatory detour over with.

Psyfalcon, everything I’ve heard is that the bridge will open to all modes at the same time. Unfortunately.

Bryan Dorr
9 years ago

Good to see this path reopened. I don’t mind riding on Water Ave., but I prefer the scenic route. I just found out about this today riding back home and stopped to take a photo or two of the bridge.

Kiel Johnson / Go By Bike
kiel johnson
9 years ago

that rendering is really hard to understand, will you be able to exit from the south side onto the springwater trail?

maccoinnich
9 years ago
Reply to  kiel johnson

It looks like you can either cross the tracks to the path at the north side, or use SE Old Water Avenue and SE Carruthers place to loop around the Portland Opera. It seems like there wasn’t room for a path in between the bridge and the Opera building.

Dwaine Dibbly
Dwaine Dibbly
9 years ago

The bridge is open now, if you go when the workers aren’t there. Just sayin’….

Grandpa
Grandpa
9 years ago

Wow!! The Critical Mass ride really worked.

Chris I
Chris I
9 years ago

It would be really nice if they could open this to bikes/peds next spring. It’s painful to ride north past that beautiful bridge when I am riding from South Waterfront to Ladd’s.

Joe
Joe
9 years ago

awesome can’t wait to ride it along with crossing bridge by bike. 🙂

Austin
Austin
9 years ago

The new section of the path looks great. And I love that new bridge, I look at it very longingly whenever I’m stuck in traffic on the Marquam.

Mossby Pomegranate
Mossby Pomegranate
9 years ago

Enjoy it! We are all paying dearly for it.

Dan
Dan
9 years ago

Should last a really long time, without cars wearing it down.

Chris I
Chris I
9 years ago

Your definition of “paying dearly” is laughable. The design/build for this bridge came at $135 million, which is less than half of the cost of the new Sellwood Bridge, and less than ODOT and WSDOT spent on PLANNING for the failed CRC.

Reza
Reza
9 years ago
Reply to  Chris I

Don’t mind MP; he thinks any project west of I-205 is a waste of money.

Chris I
Chris I
9 years ago
Reply to  Reza

Well, he’s in luck, then. ODOT just spent $93 million to build two new bridges in Troutdale.

Joe
Joe
9 years ago

yup this is a green bridge….. yay! pay dearly with cars on it.. 😉

GlowBoy
GlowBoy
9 years ago

$135M for such a spectacular AND useful bridge seems pretty good, compared to what a lot of stuff costs these days.

007
007
9 years ago

Yea!!!! I will ride it tonight. I always dread having to go through the Water Ave. asphalt jungle. The road heat and various petroleum fumes through there are sickening. No more! Yea!!!!!!

GlowBoy
GlowBoy
9 years ago

It was really cool getting what was by far the closest look I’ve yet had of this bridge.

But why was the gate at the north end of the OMSI property nearly closed and blocking the path tonight? It was wide open through the entire closure.

Clare B
Clare B
9 years ago
Reply to  GlowBoy

That’s what I want to know, too! In my 6 years of living in Portland and commuting past OMSI most of that time, I’ve never seen that gate like that before. One can still pass through, but you need to practically stop your bike to maneuver through. Perhaps this is a speed control during OMSI’s summer classes?

Shyla O.
9 years ago

Sonic dish? Buskers! Jugglers! Concerts!!

GlowBoy
GlowBoy
9 years ago

The nearly closed gates across the path just south of the Hawthorne bridge appear to be set that way semi-permanently. Anyone know why this was done? Sure seems a long way from MUTCD compliance.

sac hiep
9 years ago

The nearly closed gates across the path just south of the Hawthorne bridge appear to be set that way semi-permanently. Anyone know why this was done? Sure seems a long way from MUTCD compliance.