Bridge sidewalk (view is facing
west on the north side of the
bridge).
(Photos © J. Maus)
TriMet recently completed a construction project on the Steel Bridge and the result is a narrower sidewalk on the north side.
The majority of people that ride bikes over the Steel Bridge use the shared, non-motorized vehicle pathway on the lower deck, but the upper deck is still an important connection for some. When headed eastbound, I prefer to use the upper, bridge sidewalk because it is more direct and quicker for me than taking the lower-deck and then connecting to the Esplanade.
During the morning commute, I still often see people on bikes use the westbound sidewalk. But with the newly narrowed sidewalk, TriMet is urging extra caution and has posted an alert notice that states, “The optimal route for pedestrians and cyclists remains the lower deck of the bridge.”
TriMet created a map of these “Vehicle Access Changes” (unfortunately it doesn’t mention bicycles):
of the blind corner.
In addition to recommending the lower deck, TriMet has added a new sign to the bridge and is also reminding bike operators to yield to pedestrians.
I went out to the location today to check things out.
The northern sidewalk begins to get narrower as it heads downhill on the west side of the bridge. It also narrows right at a corner where visibility is limited. It is still passable via bicycle, but it is indeed an area that requires slow speeds and a lot of caution.