August will see TriMet’s largest MAX improvements projects to date, resulting in a four-week-long closure of the Steel Bridge to allow crews to make a series of major upgrades to the MAX light rail system that will improve resiliency, keep trains on time and create a smoother ride.
From Sunday, August 2, through Saturday, August 29, the upper deck of the Steel Bridge will be closed to auto, bus, MAX light rail, bicycle and pedestrian traffic to accommodate the work.
Crews will be replacing switches, old technology and signals to match that section of track more reliable. More than 600 trains a day cross the bridge.
All MAX lines—Blue, Green, Orange, Red and Yellow—will be disrupted. To move people around the disruption, shuttle buses will depart about every two to five minutes, serving Rose Quarter, Union Station/NW 5th & Glisan and Old Town/Chinatown stations. MAX passengers should expect delays of 30 to 45 minutes.
Five bus lines will be detoured to other bridges.