Get ready for a long-term detour in Northeast Portland. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) announced a two-year closure of the NE 42nd Avenue Bridge over NE Lombard Street starting August 4, according to the PBOT website. The old bridge is making way for a new, earthquake-ready structure that promises to enhance freight access and improve connections for cyclists and pedestrians to nearby greenways and paths.
The revamp which handed the reins to Cascade Bridge LLC after a competitive bidding process last year. The replacement comes as a boon for active travelers, promising linkage to the NE Holman Neighborhood Greenway, as well as the NE 47th Avenue multi-use path. However, drivers and area businesses brace for the impact of extended detours and potential delays.
While the bridge is inaccessible, heavy and long tractor trailers will need to reroute considerably, with PBOT recommending an alternate path along NE Killingsworth Street to NE 82nd Avenue and NE Columbia Blvd for northbound trucks, and the reverse for those traveling southbound. Passenger vehicles may navigate using other local streets to cross NE Lombard Street, although with the adjacent roadways not configured to handle similar traffic loads, delays are to be expected.
During this transition, cyclists face a tough situation—there will be no alternate bike path to replace the missing infrastructure on the bridge. This creates a challenge for those who rely on bikes, as they must now find their own safe way across the difficult NE Lombard Street. Meanwhile, residents and businesses can take some comfort knowing that local access will remain open during the construction. Officials are warning travelers in the area to expect delays, drive carefully, and follow closure signs and directions from flaggers.
