After a four month closure, the City of Portland removed the final barricades that were blocking access on the Springwater Corridor path near Oaks Bottom Wildlife Refuge.



A Portland Bureau of Environmental Services project to enlarge a culvert between the refuge and the Willamette River led to the path being closed since July.


There was significant consternation prior to the closure that the alternative route — which directed bicycle users considerably out of direction onto much more dangerous surface streets — would not be adequate. The detour was certainly not as nice as having the Springwater, but I was pleasantly surprised to have not heard many complaints from the community. Of course this could be simply because many people decided not to bike. It’s hard to know what, if any, impact the peak-season closure had on cycling rates.

What’s not hard to know is that the project will have a very positive impact on the life of all types of fish, birds, and other wildlife. I look forward to checking it out next time I’m out there.

Have you ridden the new path today? Are you relieved it’s reopened?

— Jonathan Maus: (503) 706-8804, @jonathan_maus on Twitter and jonathan@bikeportland.org

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oaks bottom enhancement project, springwater corridor