Here's the latest update on ODOT's Oregon City/West Linn Bridge project...

ODOT has released a survey to find out if shuttle users want them to add a later night service on Saturday and Sunday. ODOT has been operating a shuttle for bikers and walkers since construction began.

Here's more from ODOT rep Susan Hanson:

"We are trying to decide if there is sufficient need to add later night service on Saturday and Sunday between 8 -11 p.m. (more...)

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) announced today that, starting Monday (5/2) they will increase the frequency of shuttle bus service around the closed Arch Bridge between Oregon City and West Linn.

The more frequent service comes as a response to high demand and the coming summer season, says ODOT spokeswoman Susan Hanson. "Ridership has been growing since January and we felt with the good weather, we're likely to see even more ridership." (more...)

As seen from the Oregon City side.

The Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is set to close the Oregon City-West Linn Arch Bridge for two years starting next month. The project will renovate the 90-year old bridge but it will also cut off a key (especially for non-motorized traffic) Willamette River crossing.

ODOT has a detour in place for motor vehicles that will take them about one mile north to the I-205 Abernethy bridge. Since non-motorized traffic is illegal on I-205 (it's a freeway) the closest, bike accessible crossings are the Sellwood Bridge eight miles north or the Canby Ferry, which is about nine miles south. (more...)

The Oregon City Bridge
(Photo: Wikipedia)

An ad-hoc working group formed by the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has decided that shuttle service is the "most feasible and reasonable" way to maintain non-motorized access between Oregon City and West Linn during an impending two-year closure of the bridge that connects the two cities.

According to a letter from ODOT to members of the group, the agency has budgeted $550,000 for the shuttle service and says they are "commited to providing convenient, easy to use, high quality shuttle service to meet the needs of bicyclists and pedestrians during the closure of the bridge."
(more...)

Oregon City Mayor Alice Norris (left) and
Clackamas County Chair Lynn Peterson learn
about the bridge from an
ODOT engineer.
(Photos: ODOT)

Last Friday, the Oregon Department of Transportation hosted a tour of the Oregon City/West Linn Arch Bridge. The bridge is slated for a major, two-year renovation project and ODOT is faced with having to figure out how to maintain non-motorized access across the river during the closure.

So far, ODOT has not figured out a solution and they are acutely aware that bike advocates, elected officials and other community members want to make sure that adequate, non-motorized access options will be provided for. (more...)

Riders on the bridge.
(Photo © J. Maus)

As we reported back in April, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) is planning to close the historic Oregon City/West Linn Arch Bridge for two years during a major rehabilitation project.

The problem with the project is that there has not yet emerged a solution for how to detour non-motorized traffic. Cars and trucks can zip around the project and use I-205 to the north, but bicycles and pedestrians are not allowed on that stretch of highway. The closest crossings for bikes and pedestrians would be the Sellwood Bridge (six miles north) or the Canby Ferry (nine miles south) -- making neither of them viable options.
(more...)

The Oregon City Bridge
(Photo: Wikipedia)

The historic arch bridge that connects Oregon City to West Linn will close for two years starting this November.

The Oregon City Bridge opened in 1922 and the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) says it is in dire need of maintenance and rehabilitation work. The result of this major project is that the bridge will be completely closed to all traffic (that includes motor vehicles, bikes and pedestrians) for the duration of the work.
(more...)