New signage and markings are
coming to the Morrison Bridge.
(Photos © J. Maus)

On March 30th, Multnomah County finally cut the ribbon on a new pathway for biking and walking across the Morrison Bridge that was 12 years in the making. Unfortunately, when I rode it on opening day it left quite a lot to be desired; and it turns out I wasn't the only one who felt that way.

The day the bridge opened, former transportation planner and policy analyst at Metro, Daniel Lerch, fired off an email to the county with detailed explanations of several aspects of the bridge's design he felt were not safe. Here's a snip from that email: (more...)

Multnomah County Commissioner/Chair
Jeff Cogen.
(Photos © J. Maus)

After more than 12 years of planning and advocacy a new non-motorized pathway opened on the Morrison Bridge today. The 15-foot wide, $1.9 million facility on the south side of the bridge is expected to become a popular route for bike traffic and take pressure off the overcrowded and nearby Hawthorne Bridge.

At the dedication ceremony today, soon-to-be Chair of Multnomah County (they own and manage the bridge), Jeff Cogen, said the 7,000 bike trips per day on the Hawthorne Bridge "Shows how much Portlanders love bicycles," and that it also shows, "we need to increase that access, because frankly, it's too crowded over there." (more...)

Morrison Bridge back in September.
(Photo: Elly Blue)

Multnomah County has announced details of a dedication ceremony to celebrate the long-awaited opening of improvements to the Morrison Bridge.

The event is set for next Tuesday (3/30) at 12:30 pm. Slated to speak are County Commissioners Jeff Cogen and Deboroah Kafoury, ODOT spokesperson Shelli Romero, and Mayor Adams' transportation policy director Catherine Ciarlo. The festivities will start at the bridge's west entrance (SW Naito and Morrison) and attendees will be led across the bridge by the Last Regiment of Syncopated Drummers. (more...)

Morrison Bridge back in September.
(Photo: Elly Blue)

It's been a very long time in the making, but according to The Oregonian's Joseph Rose, Multnomah County is set to open the new bikeway on the Morrison Bridge by this Friday.

Here's the blurb from The Oregonian: (more...)

Not quite done.
(Photo: Adams Carroll)

It was supposed to already be open, but Multnomah County spokesperson Mike Pullen tells us that the long-awaited bikeway improvements on the Morrison Bridge won't be ready until late February.

The project was originally slated for completion in mid-December of last year, but Pullen says the County's contractor has submitted a revised schedule that pushes the opening date back to late February. Here's a statement from Pullen in reply to our request for an update on the timeline: (more...)

If Phil Goff had his way, his "Greenway Esplanade" concept would have transformed the Morrison Bridge into a biking and walking oasis. It didn't quite turn out that way.
(Concept drawing by Phil Goff)

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Bikes will soon have a lane of their own on the Morrison Bridge.
-Slideshow below-
(Photos: Adams Carroll for BikePortland)

The Morrison Bridge project is getting ever so close to completion. Once complete, it will have a separated lane for two-way bicycle traffic and a completely new ramp down to Water Avenue on the east side.

We noticed significant progress on the markings and the pathway construction so we sent out our new ace photographer/reporter/intern Adams Carroll out this morning to take a closer look.

Adams was able to get up onto the lift-span in the center of the bridge to bring you photos of the new material being used on the lift-span (concrete would be too heavy). Also in the slideshow below, you'll get an excellent feeling for how it might feel to ride on the new pathway.
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The Morrison Bridge will soon be a connection for walking and biking, rather than a barrier. (Photo © Elly Blue)

The long-planned bicycle and pedestrian facility on the Morrison Bridge has progressed tangibly in the last two weeks. Multnomah County has announced that the new path is expected to be completed by December. (more...)

A look at the new lane for bike and foot traffic on the Morrison Bridge.

(more...)

The (very) long-awaited bike and pedestrian improvements to the Morrison Bridge will begin construction next week.

In the plans are a 15-foot wide shared path that will be added (only) to the south side of the bridge (it will be a two-way facility), from SW Alder Street to SW Naito Parkway on west side and SE Water Ave. on the east side. This $1.9 million project will vastly improve biking conditions on this bridge. Currently, the Morrison has only five-foot sidewalks (even narrower at pinch points) on each side. (more...)

Cross-section detail of new bike/ped
improvements on Morrison Bridge.
(Currently, there is only a 5-foot sidewalk.)

An estimated $3.2 million project to improve the bike and pedestrian facilities on the Morrison Bridge -- that was first identified in 1994 (yes, 1994) -- is finally set for construction.

Today I confirmed with Multnomah County (they own the bridge) spokesman Michael Pullen that the contractor on the project has just received "a notice to proceed" with construction. Pullen says signs about the project should go up next month, construction will begin in March, and the entire project should be completed by the end of this year. (more...)