Portland welcomed one of its newest bridges in July 2022 the Congressman Earl Blumenauer Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge that spans Interstate 84, and connects the Lloyd District with the Central Eastside of Northeast Portland. The bridge spans 435 feet in total, with a 380-foot clear span over I-84 and two active railroad lines and features an asymmetrical tied-arch design. The site design required custom reengineering and a variety of critical project elements were considered including developing sustainable stormwater management and erosion control plans. To minimize the size of pipe used on the construction of the tied arch, a special 65 KSI steel was identified and used, but required a longer lead time as a special mill rolling was required.
Minimizing traffic impacts was paramount to the team, but with detailed planning it was able to install the main span of the arch on Seventh Avenue with just one weekend closure of I-84. To ensure bridge users can keep Portland skyline in view, stainless steel cable mesh railing was used.
The bridge is a link to Portland Green Loop, a planned six-mile linear park that encompasses the metro area. The loop will feature tree-lined pedestrian, bike and walking paths, allowing for safe connections through the urban core. It was named after Congressman Earl Blumenauer for his years of advocacy for cycling and pedestrian issues.
The project has won various accolades including ACEC Oregon 2023 Engineering Excellence Awards Project of the Year and DJC Oregon Top Projects Infrastructure & Telecom Second Place Award.
