(Photo © J. Maus)
If you’ve been missing using the the Broadway Bridge (I sure have) to get in and out of Northwest Portland, you’re going to be very happy with this news. According to Kay Dannen with streetcar project contractor Shiels Obletz Johnsen, the bridge is set to reopen to biking and walking traffic this Saturday, September 4th.
On Saturday, all traffic (biking, walking, and motor vehicle) will be routed onto the south side of the bridge (similar to when the bridge first closed). Dannen says they expect the north sidewalk to reopen on Friday, September 17th.
With progress moving forward quickly on the east side and on the bridge, new closures are coming in the Pearl District. Be wary of full street closures for the next two months on NW Lovejoy between NW 9th and 12th and on NW Northrup between NW 10th and 11th. Sidewalks will remain open in those areas and people are allowed to bike on them (the boundary where sidewalk riding is illegal ends at NW Hoyt). (I’m awaiting word from Dannen as to whether or not bike traffic will be allowed to continue west on Lovejoy or if all traffic will be routed down to Hoyt.)
For more updates on closures due to construction of the Eastside Streetcar project, follow @pdxstreetcar on Twitter or see the construction updates on PortlandStreetcar.org.
PBOT:
Please post notice of this reopening at the nearby bridges that cyclist traffic has been rerouted to.
Please consider posting all future route changes on the paths to the same standards that MUTCD requires for automotive roads.
Not every cyclist visits this website even if they should.
Now that’s an idea for transit equality: equal warning in advance, both distance and time, before a detour is to occur.
At the NE Russel and Vancouver intersection would be good place for signage.
I looked at the Lovejoy Viaduct the other day. The streetcar tracks are where the bike lanes used to be. I have no idea how Lovejoy is going to operate successfully for for bicycles. It looks dreadful.
Projects like this definitely need a careful perusal by bicycle interests while still on the drawing boards. There’s other avoidable problems, too, like places on the east side where bicyclists are unnecessarily checkmated into curbs, into lane changes, etc.
Ted Buehler
When the bridge re-opens, I will kiss her separated bikeways and never take her for granted ever again.
Come here, Broadway Bridge.
@4 – Ha!
Ted #3:
Are you saying that on the downhill slope of the bridge, on the fork that takes you to Lovejoy street, that the former bikelane is now occupied by street car tracks?
Why wouldn’t the tracks go into the middle of the lane? It’s not like it’s wide enough for a car to squeeze by the a street car while both are traveling down hill…
OH MY GOSH! YES!!!!!!!!!!
I think I will stick to the Burnside until both sides are open.
Not sure if it is permanent or not, but both directions were open this morning.