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In a ceremony held last week, federal, state and Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) officials marked the start of construction of a new bridge that will cross the Willamette River as part of the Portland-Milwaukie light-rail project.

The bridge will be the first of its kind, accommodating light rail, buses, a future Portland streetcar, and wide bike and pedestrian paths, but no private vehicles, TriMet officials said in a prepared statement.

“The bridge and overall project will link east and west, improve and expand transit, and, most importantly, create up to 14,000 jobs when we most need them,” said TriMet General Manager Neil McFarlane.

The light-rail project will expand the rail system to 60 miles.