(July 9, 2018) The City of Portland and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers advise the traveling public to be aware of additional bicycle traffic through the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhoods and the South Waterfront as the closure of a popular segment of the Springwater Corridor takes effect this morning.  

A major restoration project to benefit salmon and other wildlife will close a section of the trail around Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge starting 7 a.m. Monday, July 9, and is scheduled to continue through October 31.  This is a hard closure – all hours, all days.

Upwards of 2,000 people use that corridor daily and now will choose from an array of alternate routes along neighborhood streets and trails and along the city’s network of bicycle lanes, adding to the usual summer uptick in bicycle travel. The traveling public is asked to be alert, respectful and patient as travel patterns adjust during the closure.

As with all construction projects, people are asked to use caution, obey traffic laws and expect some delays.

In particular these alternate routes and intersections are expected to experience additional bicycle travel:

• SE McLoughlin Boulevard and SE Harold Street - a major intersection where bicycle travelers will cross. The intersection has a marked crosswalk and push-button signal.
• SE Bybee and 19^th Avenue – the Portland Bureau of Transportation has improved this crossing with  white and green striping for people walking and bicycling as well as a new rapid flash beacon.  When the beacon’s flashing lights are activated, drivers are required to stop to allow people bicycling and walking to cross safely.
• SE Tacoma Street- also has a flashing beacon to alert drivers to stop for people crossing.
• The SE 19^th Avenue Neighborhood Greenway – the Portland Bureau of Transportation has created a new north-south connection in the Sellwood-Moreland neighborhoods, connecting to the SE 17^th Avenue bicycle lane. The new greenway is designed to be a low stress bicycle and walking route with reduced motor vehicle travel. https://www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/75551
• On the westside, people bicycling along the Willamette Greenway Trail between the Sellwood Bridge and South Waterfront are asked to watch for pedestrians, especially on narrow portions of the trail and adjust their speed accordingly.
• South Waterfront streets also are expected to see additional bicycle travel from the greenway to downtown.

For additional information view the June 28 traffic advisory as well as project page and map of alternate routes: www.portlandoregon.gov/bes/oaksbottom

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 Media Contacts:

 US Army Corps of Engineers:

Sarah Bennett (503)808-4510 Sarah.P.Bennett@usace.army.mil

City of Portland

Diane Dulken, Portland Bureau of Environmental Services (503)457-7636 diane.dulken@portlandoregon.gov

John Brady, Bureau of Transportation (503) 577-8236 john.brady@portlandoregon.gov

Mark Ross, Portland Parks & Recreation (503)823-6634 mark.ross@portlandoregon.gov