A new section of the South Waterfront Greenway was recently completed. The Willamette Tower development triggered construction of a 700-foot path that closes a gap in the greenway between Old Spaghetti Factory (S Lowell St) and a quarter-mile section completed in 2015 between S Lane and S Gibbs streets.
Along with a 12-foot wide path for cycling and other vehicles, there’s a separate path for walkers. The paths are clearly defined with different colors and a planted median. As with any new greenway development they’ve also fully restored the riverbank with attractive plantings and there are high quality furnishings where you can sit and take in the view.
What makes this section of path so nice is its proximity to Ross Island. When I was out there on Friday I was amazed how many birds I saw and heard.
This completion of this path means all that’s left to complete the greenway is redevelopment of the 30-acre Zidell Yards property. Once that happens, we’ll have a continuous riverfront path from northwest Portland (near the Fremont Bridge) all the way to the Sellwood Bridge.
There’s already a master plan on the books for the Zidell parcel and the land-use review process is moving forward. Once all the permits are approved it will likely be several years before construction begins and we make the final connection under the Ross Island Bridge to existing streets and paths near at the western landing of the Tilikum Crossing.
If you’d like to access this path from the north, head to South Waterfront via SW Moody then take a left to go east on S Whitaker. That will take you to the river and you’ll find this new section if you head south a bit from Whitaker.
For more on this path, see the video below (sorry the last few seconds are cut off). And go ride it when you can!
Thanks for reading.
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The video cuts off at the end.
I was looking for info on how to access the new section from the north, given the current Zidell grap.
yeah weird bummer that it cuts off for some reason. You can access this from South Waterfront area via S Whitaker… that’s the northernmost street that goes to the river south of the Tram.
Wouldn’t you need to use Curry, because of the one-way system?
Too bad it cuts off suddenly, but the part that’s completed is great!
That’s actually quite appropriate for a video about this path.
I’m reminded of how in 2016 the Oregonian described the northern section as a “pathway to nowhere”. Well, it took another 7 years, and 3 separately built sections, but there’s now one three miles of continuous trial from South Waterfront to the Sellwood Bridge. Hopefully the gap at Zidell gets filled sooner rather than later.
Today’s pathway to nowhere may very well be tomorrow’s beautiful and useful riverfront transportation amenity!
Very cool to see. I think this is important for recreation/livability reasons but would still love to see a more direct bike route through this part of town. The current path is needlessly winding and really narrow.
100%, not to mention the really poor connectivity from the path to the businesses on Macadam and the rest of the neighborhood.
Something positive in Portland. Good to see this!
I love how the photo shows the clearly delineated bicycle path and pedestrian walkway – and there’s still a guy walking on the bike path!
Even when bikes finally have their own dedicated paths, people still don’t respect them.
It’s probably less lack of respect and more just being unaware. People will learn which path is for which activity. Having one be asphalt and the other concrete is a good way to make it really easy and it becomes intuitive after awhile.
Yes! Love to see this. Much safer route for OHSU folks heading south along the river
Is the zidell portion poachable?
That would depend on how you feel about dragging a bike behind you while swimming.
No problem!
Not sure why they always give bikes asphalt and pedestrians cement. Walking / jogging on asphalt is much more forgiving on the knees, so no doubt there will be pedestrians in the “bike” area.
I’m very impressed. Good delineation of different modes, pretty scenery, etc. Once you have a complete set of paths the whole length of the river, it’ll become something tourists must do when they visit Portland. Rent bikes and do the river path, then go to Powell’s.
Lovely description and path! It’s so new that there’s not even any goose poop there yet!
I try to do all my riding on car-free paths. I have lost too many friends to drivers.