(Photo © J. Maus)
A popular bike route in North Portland is about to be closed until the end of December. The Vancouver Avenue bridge over the Columbia Slough has been closed to motorized traffic since the end of 2008 (due to a fire that damaged wooden supports), but biking access has been maintained. Beginning in mid-May, the bridge will be demolished and reconstructed and bike traffic will be directed to other routes.
This bridge is a popular route because it provides bike traffic a way to go north to Marine Drive, Delta Park, downtown Vancouver, and other destinations.
Paul Gornick from the Bureau of Transportation just sent along some information on the detours. He says the preferred route is to use Bryant Street to Interstate and Denver. Check out the map (PDF):
Gornick says detour maps will be posted at the bridge. Demolition work is set to begin around May 10th with completion of the project scheduled for the end of December 2010.