Sellwood Bridge will close to all traffic February 15-20

Big detour in store for a 5-day closure of the Sellwood Bridge. See full announcement from Multnomah County below:

Traffic changes for Sellwood Bridge closure February 15 – 20

Traffic changes are in store for Sellwood Bridge users when the bridge is closed for construction February 15 – 20. The bridge is scheduled to close at 12:01 a.m. on Saturday and reopen by 5 a.m. on Thursday. The closure will allow a contractor to install steel soldier piles across traffic lanes at the west end of the bridge. The piles will support the walls of a new two-level interchange where the bridge connects with Highway 43. The closure is scheduled over a holiday weekend to minimize the number of commute days that the bridge is closed.

Highway 43 will remain open to two-way traffic at all times while the bridge is closed. Turn lanes from Highway 43 to the bridge will be closed and used by construction vehicles only.

The bridge will be closed to motor vehicles, bicyclists and pedestrians. Here are tips for bridge users:

Motor Vehicles: The posted westbound detour routes during the closure are:
Northbound: Hwy. 99E to Ross Island Bridge to Hwy. 43
Southbound: Hwy. 99E to Interstate 205 (Abernethy Bridge) to Hwy. 43

Eastbound routes are the reverse.

Congestion is expected on the north detour route during weekday commute hours, especially Tuesday and Wednesday. Monday is a public holiday. Travelers should plan their alternate route in advance and expect longer trips during the closure, especially on peak commute days.

Bicyclists and Pedestrians: Bicyclists and pedestrians may prefer the Hawthorne Bridge for the northern detour. The Hawthorne Bridge can be accessed from the Sellwood neighborhood by the Springwater Trail. The westside trail between the bridge and the Macadam Bay driveway to the north will be closed, due to heavy construction in the area. Westbound bicyclists and pedestrians can choose from several routes, including:
– Taylors Ferry Road to Lakeview Drive to Corbett Avenue to Custer Street
– Taylors Ferry Road to north River View Cemetery entrance to Palatine Hill Road (cemetery road closed from dusk to dawn)
– Caution should be used on this section of Taylors Ferry Road, which is busy and steep. The Lakeview Drive route includes roads with low traffic volumes.

Multnomah County is the lead agency for the Sellwood Bridge project. The new bridge is scheduled to open in the early fall of 2015 and the entire project will be completed in 2016. For more project information, visit www.sellwoodbridge.org.