Purpose
Currently bicyclists and pedestrians crossing the Morrison Bridge must share sidewalks that are only five feet wide with narrower pinch points.  It is difficult and uncomfortable to pass other users on the narrow sidewalk.  The project will install permanent improvements to ease access across the bridge for bicyclists and pedestrians.   The goal of the project is to improve safety for all users of the bridge and minimize impacts to traffic flow.  Improvements between SW 2^nd Ave. and SE Grand Ave. will be studied.

History
The 1994 Willamette River Bridges Accessibility Study recommended this project and others for bicyclists and pedestrians.  Many community groups participated in the study, which was adopted by the Board of County Commissioners on August 18, 1994.  The County Board confirmed the study’s recommendation that permanent improvements should be added when funds became available.  The project has been included in the County’s Capital Improvement Plan since 1994.  

During the closure of the Hawthorne Bridge in 1998-99, a temporary bicycle/pedestrian path was installed across the Morrison Bridge.  Before the temporary facility was removed more than 450 residents sent postcards to the County asking that the Morrison Bridge path be preserved.  The County made a commitment to work aggressively to make permanent improvements when funding allowed.

Funding
Project funds have been secured from the following sources:

The design phase includes preliminary engineering and public involvement.  Total cost will not be known until a design is selected and a construction contract is awarded.

The request for federal funds was approved by the regional Joint Policy Advisory Committee on Transportation (JPACT) and Metro Council through the last two Metropolitan Transportation Improvement Program (MTIP) cycles.  JPACT is made up of elected officials and representatives of agencies from the region, including Multnomah County.

Timeline

More Project Information
To find out more about the project, open these documents* that were prepared for a Project Open House on January 29, 2003.  The documents show what alignments were studied, traffic constraints and what design options are being considered.

    - Alignments:  North Side Alignment,  Middle Alignment,  South Side Alignment

    - Traffic Constraints:  Remove Eastbound Lane - Merge Option,  Remove Eastbound Lane - Signal Option,  Remove Westbound Lane

    - Design Options:  Plan View, Cross Sections,  Examples of Shared Facilities,  Pathway Design,  Water Ave Ramp Options,
                                Naito Parkway Options,  Alder Street Ramp Option,  Viewpoints,  Amenities

    - Additional Information:  Bikeway Network,  Pedestrian Survey,  Cyclist Riding Habits,  Increasing Bicycle Use,

 For a printable version and summary of the files above use:  Open House Handout

Opportunities for Public Participation
Based on interviews with stakeholders and a traffic study, a recommended alternative was presented to the community at an open house held January 29, 2003.  Feedback from the public was used to refine the alternative.

Construction has begun
The project was awarded in Janaury 2009 to R&R Construction from Eugene, OR.  Work is underway on the project and is expected to continue till Fall, 2009.  The on-ramp from SW Naito Parkway and the off-ramp to SE Water Avenue have been closed.  The new SE Water Avenue off-ramp is under construction.  Portions of the new concrete sidewalk have been completed along the length of the bridge.  The contractor is currently concentrating on the installation of stormwater catch basins.

* These documents are in Adobe Acrobat/pdf format.  If you do not have Adobe Acrobat Reader software, you can download a free copy from http://www.adobe.com/products/acrobat/readstep.html.