Tilikum Crossing – Bridge of the People carries TriMet MAX train and buses, Portland Streetcar, and people walking, jogging, rolling, biking and scooting between Southeast Portland and South Waterfront.

(April 11, 2019) The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) advises the traveling public that starting Monday, April 15, the pedestrian/bicycle path on the north side of Tilikum Crossing, Bridge of the People, will be closed for two weeks, followed by a two-week closure of the south side path.

People walking and cycling in both directions on Tilikum Crossing will share the south side path between OMSI/SE Water and South Waterfront/SW Moody MAX stations April 15 through April 26, then share the north side path April 29 through May 10. These dates are subject to change.

The closures will allow PBOT’s contractor Goodfellow Bros, Inc. to connect a new segment of SW Bond Avenue to Tilikum Crossing / SW Porter Street. Work will include demolishing and replacing concrete walkways and bikeways, handrails, electrical conduits, striping, signage and signal equipment. Periodic night work will allow TriMet and Portland Streetcar services to continue without disruption.

We ask the public to travel cautiously, observe all construction signage, and use alternate routes if possible. Portions of this work are weather-dependent and the schedule may change.

When SW Bond Avenue opens later this year, people will be able to walk, jog, roll, bike and scoot over the Tilikum Crossing from the east side, then make an immediate right turn onto SW Bond Avenue for a shorter route to downtown (or do the opposite route to access Tilikum eastbound). At the north end, SW Bond Avenue will connect to what used to be a cul-de-sac on SW River Parkway underneath the Marquam Bridge.

SW Bond Avenue will feature sidewalks or interim asphalt walkways on both sides of the street, and a sidewalk-level protected bike lane in the northbound direction. Southbound bikes will share the roadway with light vehicle traffic in the southbound vehicle lane. Vehicular traffic will be able to use SW Bond Avenue in both directions between SW Meade Street and SW River Parkway, but will not be able to access SW Porter Street / Tilikum Crossing. Metered on-street parking will available north of SW Meade Street.

The SW Bond Avenue Extension Phase 1 is a partnership between PBOT, Prosper Portland and Oregon Health and & Science University (OHSU). The city’s investment in this 1,500-foot-long street serves as the city’s contribution to the Knight Cancer Challenge – a public-private partnership launched by Phil and Penny Knight in 2013 to construct a state-of-the-art OHSU research institute focused on early cancer detection and treatment. The OHSU Knight Cancer Institute opened in 2018 at 2720 SW Moody Ave. and will see improved access upon the completion of SW Bond Avenue and SW Meade Street later this year. SW Bond Avenue also will provide access to six additional development sites on OHSU’s Schnitzer Campus.

Substantial completion of SW Bond Avenue is anticipated in July 2019; however, PBOT’s ability to open the street to the public will depend on a number of technical issues associated with the connection to SW Meade Street, including lighting conduits and general construction activity. We will report an anticipated opening date when it is available.

Learn more and sign up for email updates about construction progress and upcoming community events at www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation/bondave

The SW Bond Avenue Extension is funded by the North Macadam Urban Renewal Area administered by Prosper Portland, transportation system development charges administered by PBOT, and an Immediate Opportunity Fund grant from the State of Oregon, with right-of-way donation and most environmental remediation work provided by OHSU.