Heads up, Portland commuters: The Thurman Street Bridge is getting a little TLC, but it's going to complicate your drive. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced that on Wednesday, July 30, the bridge will be restricted to eastbound traffic only from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. for some much-needed expansion joint repairs. The Balch Gulch Bridge, as it's more formally known, won't be closing its sidewalks to pedestrians or cyclists, so walkers and bike riders, you're in the clear.
Built back when the 1905 Lewis and Clark Centennial Exposition was all the rage, this bridge isn't just any bridge—it's the oldest one still kicking around in the region. It carries with it a hefty dose of history and some serious engineering street cred. According to the Portland Bureau of Transportation, drivers heading west on NW Thurman Street between 29th and 31st avenues will be rerouted using a signed detour, taking them on a scenic detour from 20th to Wilson to 33rd, then Vaughn, and finally onto 32nd. TriMet buses will be cutting a path around the bridge maintenance, too.
Looking beyond Wednesday's hiccup, there's more work in the pipeline for the Balch Gulch Bridge. PBOT's got plans for new street lighting and a brand spanking new coat of paint to keep the old gal standing strong. Currently surrounded by scaffolding, the bridge will be undergoing a comprehensive scrub-down before it gets its makeover, blasting away the old paint and giving it a careful once-over to see if there's any aging steel that needs swapping out.
