Construction begins Monday on a long-awaited pedestrian bridge on the Wildwood Trail over West Burnside Street.

Portland’s iconic 30-mile-long urban hiking trail draws about 80,000 runners and hikers every year as it stretches through Washington Park and Forest Park, but the crossing at Burnside has long been a concern as it pits hikers with thousands of cars on a dangerous bend in the road.

The Barbara Walker Crossing is the culmination of more than two decades of discussion, hope and planning. The nonprofit Portland Parks Foundation led the fundraising effort, collecting two-thirds of the $3.2 million price tag from more than 900 donors. The city of Portland is contributing $850,000 ($500,000 from the general fund and $350,000 in transportation fees charged to developers for new projects). Metro is also chipping in $200,000 from its 2014 open space bond measure.

City leaders and park officials held a ceremonial groundbreaking Thursday near the site. The bridge is expected to be finished by September.

A portion of Wildwood Trail will be closed throughout the construction.

A map shows the 2019 closure on the Wildwood Trail.

-- Andrew Theen

atheen@oregonian.com

503-294-4026

@andrewtheen

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