(Photo: bobcycle)
The North Vancouver Avenue Bridge has finally been re-opened. The bridge, which provides a crucial north-south link for bicycle traffic over the Columbia Slough, was closed for nearly a year for much-needed repairs to its foundation.
The closure caused headaches for people who bike between Vancouver and North Portland because the detours around the construction were far from ideal. As we reported about three months after the closure, many people raised concerns about the safety and accessibility of the detours.
Making matter worse were several delays in the completion of the project (due to a number of factors, including wet weather that delayed paving work).
(Photo: City of Portland)
Asked about the delays, PBOT told us, “The [transportation] bureau understands that this is an important route for cyclists with a challenging detour. We’re working with the contractor to finish the project as quickly as possible without compromising the structure.”
Originally slated to re-open in December 2010, City of Portland pushed back the date to the end of February. Then, the date was pushed back to mid-April.
Finally, yesterday, we got confirmation from the City of Portland that the bridge is now open. BikePortland Forum user “bobcycle” posted a photo and message on a thread about the project.
I haven’t made it over to check out the scene myself. Have you? We’d love to hear a report from some regular Vancouver Bridge commuters.