(PORTLAND,Ore.) – City Commissioner Steve Novick announced today that the Broadway Bridge sidewalks, which have been closed since 9 a.m. on Tuesday, will reopen before Thursday morning’s rush-hour commute – a full day earlier than expected.

“I’m pleased to announce that this important work will be completed a day early,” said Novick, who oversees the Portland Bureau of Transportation. “We appreciate the public’s patience during these safety repairs, and thanks to the coordination between Portland Streetcar, the Transportation Bureau and contractors doing the work, we’re able to get the sidewalks back open a day early and in time for the Thursday morning commute.”

The bridge sidewalks will reopen by 7 a.m. Thursday July 18, before the peak of morning rush hour. The closure was expected to remain in effect until 5 a.m. on Friday.

The closure was required for crews to repair the non-slip coating on bridge sidewalks. The coating was installed as part of theCentral Loopextension of the Portland Streetcar. Flaws in the coating were being repaired at no cost to Portland Streetcar or the City of Portland. The team of Stacy and Witbeck Inc. and Hamilton Construction performed the work.

The Broadway Bridge is on one of the busiest bike routes inPortland, carrying 4,432 cycling trips a day in summer 2012, according to Transportation Bureau figures.

To reduce the inconvenience to the traveling public, Portland Streetcar Inc. provided free rides across the bridge during the closure.

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