As promised, the Oregon Department of Transportation (ODOT) has installed 36 new signs on the bike path between Delta Park and the I-5 bridge. I rode out there yesterday to take a closer look.
The route through the Marine Drive Interchange, Hayden Island and up onto the deck of the I-5 bridge shared-use path has long been confusing and somewhat difficult to navigate — especially for the uninitiated. Back in October, we shared the story of stencils and laminated maps that were installed by a Good Samaritan/citizen activist who was tired of waiting for an official solution.
A few days later, ODOT announced they’d remove the unauthorized signs, then they said they had a signage plan in the works all along.
As you can see in the photos, the signs that have been installed are a bit different than initially planned. Instead of saying “I-5 Path” at the top they just have a bicycle symbol. This was done because ODOT wanted the signs to be consistent with bikeway network signage already in use throughout Portland (and, as you can see in this photo, they’re nearly identical to PBOT’s signs).
When I rode out to see the signs for myself yesterday, I found them to work as advertised. They are placed at every junction, starting on the southern end of the path just north of Delta Park all the way up to the bridge deck. They are clear, large, and easy to read. The signs are also intended to work for both southbound and northbound bike traffic.
And in case you were wondering, those DIY stencils are still alive and well….
According to ODOT Public Information Officer Don Hamilton, the signs cost about $10,000 to fabricate and install and were paid for with funds set aside in ODOT’s bike and pedestrian program.
There weren’t many people riding on the path during my visit yesterday. When I got the chance to ask someone what they thought of the new signs, a man pedaling by yelled back, “They’re great!”
Have you noticed the signs yet? What do you think?