Commuters can temporarily breathe a sigh of relief, as the announced closures of the Hawthorne Bridge have been canceled, sparing the city from the traffic disruptions that were expected to besiege its thoroughfares. In a turn of events detailed by Multnomah County officials, the scheduled shutdowns from tomorrow through Saturday are no longer on the calendar. These closures were originally planned to allow for the installation of a new gear vital to the bridge's mechanical operations.
The postponement is due to additional engineering work that must be completed before the gear installation—a necessity that will delay the project by at least a month. Motorists and cyclists who frequently cross the iconic Portland structure now have the opportunity to conveniently rearrange their transit plans.
"The closures will be postponed for at least a month to allow for additional engineering work before the installation," the county confirmed in a release, signaling that planners need to further refine their approach to the bridge's upgrade.
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