(March 19, 2014)  – The City of Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public that repairs and restoration of the historic Thurman Street Bridge will require a complete closure of NW Thurman Street between NW 28^th and NW 32^nd avenues from Tuesday, April 1 through Labor Day, all hours, all days. 

The Thurman Street Bridge, the oldest of its kind in the state, crosses Balch Creek and Lower Macleay Park and is a popular access point to Forest Park. 

The closure applies to all users – drivers, pedestrians and bicycles as well as transit.  A detour will be in place for local residents as well as visitors to Lower Macleay Park and Forest Park, including the Leif Erikson Drive trailhead.  (Please see detour maps at thurmanbridge.com) TriMet will provide local shuttle service in lieu of the Line 15 bus service on NW Thurman  Street.  The closure includes the stairway access from the bridge to Lower Macleay Park.

Traffic signs will be in place to direct the public along the detour route.  The public is advised to expect longer travel times while repairs are being made.  We ask the public to travel cautiously, observe all closure signs and speed limits. 

The restoration involves rebuilding the bridge deck and supporting girders as well as upgrading the pedestrian railing from a chain link railing to one similar to the original 1905 design.    The bridge deck and other structural elements are in poor condition with a weight restriction that prohibits heavy traffic. Upon completion, the weight restriction will be lifted.

This project, which involves dismantling and reassembling a historic bridge, is complex and unforeseen conditions may arise during construction that could cause the schedule to change. 

The $3.78 million project is being funded primarily by the Federal Highway Administration’s Highway Bridge Program, with a $3.4 million contribution with the remaining $388,000 coming from city funds.

For more information, including project updates visit the project website: thurmanbridge.com

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