(Photo: Jonathan Maus/BikePortland)
UPDATE, 5/13: The bridge has re-opened 39 days early! It is open as of 5/13.
A carfree bridge that connects north Portland neighborhoods to the Columbia Slough, Smith & Bybee Lakes, and many other destinations will close for 90 days starting March 25th.
The announcement was made today by the Bureau of Environmental Services. Here’s the official word:
The Inverness Force Main is an 11-mile pressure sewer that carries sewage from northeast Portland to the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plan. The 36-inch line splits into a 20-inch and a 30-inch pipe about two miles east of the plant. Both sections are suspended underneath the Columbia Slough Pedestrian Trail Bridge, which Environmental Services constructed. Repairs to the 30-inch pipe have been completed. Construction is about to begin to make repairs to the 20-inch pipe.
BIKE/PED TRAIL BRIDGE CLOSURE
The Columbia Slough Bike/Pedestrian Trail Bridge, located north of the Columbia Boulevard Wastewater Treatment Plant, will be closed to make the sewer pipe repairs beneath the bridge. The closure will be 90 days beginning March 25, 2019. The bridge should reopen by June 23, 2019.
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If you need more information about this closure, contact Debbie Caselton at 503-823-2831 or email Debbie.Caselton@portlandoregon.gov (include “Inverness 20” in your voicemail or in the subject line of your email).
BES suggests a detour that uses Columbia Blvd and Argyle Street to connect to N Denver Ave where you can connect to the Slough paths at Schmeer Road. I know North Portland Road (to the west) is tempting because it’s direct and very close; but it’s a very dangerous place to ride a bike. Unless you are very confident and skilled, I strongly suggest avoiding it.
See our route advisory page for other bike route closures in the Portland area.
— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org
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