The Portland-Milwaukie Light Rail Bridge will serve light rail trains, pedestrians, cyclists, and in the future, Portland Streetcar. Bus lines 9, 17 and 19, which currently travel on the Ross Island Bridge, may also change routes to use the new bridge (Decisions about bus line planning in regards to the entire project will occur through a service planning public process). The bridge will not serve private vehicles, but will be able to accommodate emergency vehicles.

Construction

Construction of the light rail bridge began July 1, 2011, with in-water work. For environmental reasons related to fish migration, construction in the water can only take place from July 1 through October 31 of any given year. In-water construction will include installation of two temporary work bridges, one extending from the river’s east bank and one from the west bank. These temporary bridges allows crews direct and safe access to the in-water tower sites, and will be used for delivery of equipment and materials to the bridge.

During the four-month in-water work window, crews will also be installing two cofferdams around the sites where the bridge’s two towers will be built. Once the cofferdam walls are installed, fish are removed from within the cofferdams, and then all of the water is pumped out. This creates two construction “islands” in the river that allow crews, working beyond October, to create foundation shafts, and ultimately the two piers from which the towers will rise, without disturbing the river.

Live Bridge Cam:

Visit the Tri-Met Light Rail Page for More Information

View more Bridge Cameras – http://trimet.org/pm/construction/bridgecams.htm
Portland – Milwaukie Light Rail Home Page – http://trimet.org/pm
Bridge Specific Information – http://trimet.org/pm/construction/bridge.htm