Update on Burnside Bridge closure

A few weeks ago I shared news that the Burnside Bridge would be closed to cars and open only to bikes and peds for three weeks.

There was some confusion over the start of the closure and I just received the latest from the Multnomah County Public Affairs office.

Here’s the official word:

A three-week closure of the Burnside Bridge for lift span repairs will begin at 9:00 am on Monday, July 16. The closure will impact motor vehicles only. Pedestrians and bicyclists will be able to cross the bridge at most times and river traffic will not be impacted. The bridge is scheduled to reopen by 6:00 am on Monday, August 6.

The closure will allow a contractor to replace parts of a hinge that attaches the 3.8 million pound counterweight to the lift span. The original parts have worn and broken so that the hinge cannot turn freely when the bridge opens for river traffic. If the hinge were to fail, the east lift span would not be able to open.

Replacement of the pin and bearing that form the hinge is technically challenging. The contractor will need to detach the counterweight and lower it to replace the parts. A complex rigging system will support the counterweight while it is detached. The bridge closure is needed to ensure the safety of the public, workers and the bridge itself. Vibrations from traffic could impact drilling operations and other work.

During the closure TriMet bus routes 12, 19 and 20 will use the Morrison Bridge. Alternate river crossings include the Hawthorne, Morrison, Steel and Broadway bridges. Of these, the Broadway Bridge has the most excess capacity and could be a good alternate crossing for many motorists.”

Woohoo…no cars! Let the party planning begin! Who’s bringing the squirt guns?

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Jonathan Maus (Publisher/Editor)

Founder of BikePortland (in 2005). Father of three. North Portlander. Basketball lover. Car driver. If you have questions or feedback about this site or my work, contact me 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 paying subscriber.

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Jasun Wurster
Jasun Wurster
17 years ago

And So it is… Dance party on the Burnside!

Contact jasunwurster@gmail.com to start the planning. No curfew since it is not a public park. Let\’s get a group of about 10 people together to rock this car free party all night long. I am thinking of a Saturday.

Let\’s show Portland who we are and what we got. I will throw down the cash and do the leg work for the noise permit so some rogue PPB officer with an uncheckable ego can not shut us down.

jasun

Anonymous
Anonymous
17 years ago

Maybe you could get a giant neon arrow for the party, pointing down from the sky that says \”look at us, we\’re special\” All 10 of you.

Jasun Wurster
Jasun Wurster
17 years ago

We all are special… even you.

natallica
natallica
17 years ago

yea jasun! i\’m there! i\’ll be looking for the neon arrow, great idea anon!

christian
christian
17 years ago

I lived in PDX some years ago when the Hawthorne bridge had a similar closure. I don\’t remember any dance parties (fun idea!), but it sure was nice for cycling and strolling.

P Finn
17 years ago

Let\’s make it a really really big arrow and…wait, only 10 people can come?

Anon, you\’re not invited.

Matt Picio
17 years ago

Anon was speaking in binary. 10=2, meaning Jasun and \”everyone else who shows up\”. Cuz, obviously, there\’s no way to know how many that\’s going to be, right?

I like the neon arrow, though we\’d probably need Aaron Tarfman to haul it.

😀

revphil
17 years ago

everyone start gathering your portable stereos… jasun is about to go crazy go nutz

Graham
Graham
17 years ago

Maybe Disjecta could get in on the act, being on the bridge and all…

Aaron
Aaron
17 years ago

I\’ll be at the Oxbow camping trip, but after that, I want to help make an awesome Burnside extravaganza