Construction begins this month on Flanders Crossing, a new pedestrian and bicycle bridge over I‐405 at NW Flanders Street in Portland. Crews contracted by the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) will begin initial work next week, with major construction starting in July.
When complete, Flanders Crossing will be 24-feet wide and stretch 200 feet across I-405, with two-way access for pedestrians and people on bikes. The bridge will serve as a seismic lifeline route in the case of a major earthquake. The project will also include new traffic signals at NW 14th and 16th avenues, and a four-way stop sign at NW 15th Avenue in order to provide access to the bridge from both sides.
NW Flanders Street has long been planned to be to a Neighborhood Greenway route, providing a low-stress, east-west bicycling and walking connection across Northwest Portland, the Pearl District, Old Town and into downtown Portland, with connections to the Steel Bridge and Waterfront Park. Until now it has been difficult for people to walk or bike the short distance to the Central City from Northwest Portland due to the lack of a safe and comfortable crossing of I-405. Pedestrians and people biking must currently use either NW Everett or Glisan streets, both of which lack sidewalks on one side and require negotiating on- and off-ramps for vehicles entering and exiting I-405.
The project has been enthusiastically endorsed by the Northwest District Association, Pearl District Neighborhood Association, Old Town Chinatown Community Association, the Nob Hill Business Association, and many others.
The $9.5 million Flanders Crossing Bridge is funded by ConnectOregon grant funds and Transportation System Development Charges. The project will employ approximately 100 people including subcontractors from over seven minority-owned businesses.
When construction begins there will be some minor impacts to traffic and short-term parking. There will also be removal of some trees at the east end of the bridge site at NW Flanders Street and 15th Avenue as well as a nighttime closure of the NW Everett Street on-ramp to I-405.
Source: Portland Bureau of Transportation