PDX Transit

Burnside Bridge Out Of Commission

Friday, 09. 21. 2007  –  Category: Biking, Driving, Walk

The Burnside Bridge, one of the main links between the East and West sides of Portland, will be shutdown over the next three weeks for vital structural repairs.  The 81 year-old span will be getting a new mechanism which raises and lowers the eastern half of the bridge, but in order to do this, the bridge contractor must detatch a 3.8 million pound concrete counterweight.  The temporary detachment of the counterweight was attempted once before, and it resulted in damaging a rigging system that was designed to assist in the bridge repairs.

The Burnside Bridge

Over 40,000 cars cross the Burnside Bridge every day, and this closure will certainly increase traffic issues along the other spans crossing the Willamette.  There is good news for non-drivers, however, as both pedestrians and cyclists will still be able to utilize the bridge throughout all of the repairs.

The bridge is planned to fully re-open to cars on October 8th.  For more information, check out the Portland Tribune. 

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2. Help Keep Portland Bike-Friendly
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