TRAFFIC ALERTS
Bridge Closure: The Sellwood Bridge is closed to all users from 6 am on Thursday, July 28 until no later than 6 am on Sunday, July 31 due to paving and other work. The Ross Island and I-205 Abernethy bridges are alternate crossings, while bicyclists and pedestrians can use the Tilikum Crossing and Hawthorne bridges. Highway 43 remains open. During the closure, the City of Portland will pave SE Tacoma St. between SE 6th Ave. and SE 17th Ave.
Cemetery Entrance: The entrance to historic River View Cemetery from Highway 43 at the west end of the Sellwood Bridge will be paved the night of July 29. Bicyclists and pedestrians can use the entrance to access the Westside regional trail north of the bridge while the bridge is closed. The entrance is closed to motor vehicles until Monday, August 1. Motor vehicles can enter the cemetery from SW Taylors Ferry Road or SW Boones Ferry Road.
WEST SIDE WORK
New Bridge and Interchange: Major paving is in progress for the Westside interchange this week. The through lanes for Hwy. 43 under the bridge and the high speed lanes north and south of the bridge have been repaved. During this week’s bridge closure, ramps between Hwy. 43 and the bridge will be paved. Next week permanent concrete barriers will be placed on the ramps and cast-in-place concrete transitions at the ends of the barriers will be built and traffic loops installed.
On the north side of the interchange bridge, construction of the parapet wall and streetlight supports continues. Installation of traffic signal poles, bases and equipment continues.
North of the bridge on Hwy. 43, stormwater facilities are being built, temporary concrete barriers removed and new permanent barriers are being installed.
River View Cemetery: The cemetery entrance from Hwy. 43 at the west end of the bridge is a very active work zone. The driveway will be repaved the night of July 29. A concrete sidewalk was poured this week. Next week traffic loops will be installed in the driveway, irrigation for the funeral home will be installed, and final grading for the public parking area will be completed.
Multiuse Path Bridge: Concrete finish work is being done on the columns and cap beams of the bridge that will carry bicyclists and pedestrians on the regional trail under the main bridge to reach its south sidewalk. Pre-cast concrete beams will be installed in early August.
Trolley Corridor: Grading the area where tracks for the historic trolley line will be reinstalled continues next week. Top soil will be installed on slopes near the line.
Old Staff Jennings Property: Construction of a large bioswale to treat stormwater from the west half of the bridge and the interchange continues, with drain rock and top soil installed this week. Invasive plant species in the area are being removed and new top soil put down outside the swale.
RIVER WORK
New Bridge: Handrails and worker safety lifelines are being installed on the river bents (columns).
Old Bridge Removal: During this week’s bridge closure, a crane will be positioned on the new bridge to lift two sections of the old green bridge from the tops of river piers and lower them to a barge. The first of two steel river fenders that protected the downstream side of the detour bridge has been removed.
Work Bridge Removal: Removal of steel piles from the east work bridge should be completed this week. Over the next two weeks piles will be removed from the west work bridge.
EAST SIDE WORK
East Approach: Concrete was poured this week for two deck joints. Concrete will be poured next week for the north sidewalk. Then work will begin on the parapet wall on the north side.
Below the approach, the detour bridge foundation near the river bank is being removed and excavation continues for two condo parking lots, landscaping and a riverside trail.
Tacoma Street: Subcontractors are installing signal heads and equipment for the new traffic signal at 6th Ave. During this week’s bridge closure, Tacoma Street’s surface between the bridge and 6th Ave. will be ground and repaved, while the City of Portland paves Tacoma Street between 6th and 17th Avenues. Next week work begins on installing traffic loop detectors in the pavement.
Condos: At Sellwood Harbor Condominiums on the south side of the bridge, the contractor is building new garages and a storage shed that replace buildings that were under the old bridge. Work on three buildings continues.
Buy a piece of the old Sellwood Bridge, help a school – Pieces of the old Sellwood Bridge are being sold to benefit Sellwood Middle School. Rachel Ginocchio, the parent of a student at the school, turned debris from the bridge into several collectible items, including bottle openers and boxed chunks of the old bridge. Information on this fundraiser is at http://www.rumpusevents.com/sellwood-bridge-products/. According to a KGW News story, the fundraiser has collected more than $2,000 so far.
CONSTRUCTION WORK HOURS
Weekday work hours are typically 6 am to 5 pm in summer. The contractor is working at night on the Westside paving July 28 – 30. The contractor will be working around the clock until 6 am on Sunday, July 31 when the bridge reopens. The City of Portland will work on Tacoma Street between 6th and 17th Avenues the weekend of July 30-31 from 7 am to 5 pm.
For More Information – Contact Mike Pullen, 503-209-4111, mike.j.pullen@multco.us.