Project that will build carfree bridge over Columbia Blvd is back on track – BikePortland

A project that will build a carfree bridge over Columbia Boulevard in north Portland is officially back on track. The project is a vital link in the North Portland Greenway Trail and the 40-Mile Loop and it will connect St. Johns neighborhoods with existing paths in and around Kelley Point Park.

Portland Parks and Recreation says they’ve restarted the design and public outreach process after previous setbacks resulted in a pause on the project. The initial process to design the bridge kicked off in 2019, but a budget snafu emerged in 2023 which forced Parks to put the project on the shelf. That delay led to widespread disappointment and frustration.

Last year I reported that Parks remained committed to the project. Now we know they’ve kept their promise.

Parks, working with Metro and the Oregon Department of Transportation, has lined up additional funding to see the project through. Estimated to cost $11-$15 million, Parks is using a $2.7 million grant from Metro to continue designing the project and will host an open house on July 16th. According to a spokesperson, Parks is also in the final stages of accepting an additional, $6 million grant from ODOT’s Oregon Community Paths program.

The bridge will go up and over Columbia Blvd (an ODOT-owned freight corridor) between Chimney Park and what used to be the St. Johns Landfill. Thanks to Metro, the landfill is nothing but a memory and the area has been restored into prairie land. Northeast of Chimney Park, the path will run along the Columbia Slough toward Kelley Point Park.

According to Parks, the project is in 60% design phase and a public survey seeking feedback on the design will be released on July 17th.

If you’d like to learn more, join a bike ride from downtown Portland to the July 16th open house. Parks staff will share updated design drawings and the project team will be available for questions.

The project is slated for construction in 2026 and should be completed by 2027.

Learn more at the official project website.