TriMet bridge span installed for pedestrian overcrossing

The Tri-County Metropolitan Transportation District of Oregon (TriMet) recently completed a major step in the construction of a new pedestrian bridge over Union Pacific Railroad tracks as part of the Portland-Milwaukie light-rail project.

The milestone involved crews placing a 70-ton, 184-foot pedestrian/bike span over the tracks near the future Rhine Street/Southeast 17th Avenue Station, TriMet officials said in a press release.

The original crossing was built in the 1940s and was demolished in July 2014 to make way for the improved crossing. The new bridge will cross between Southeast Rhine and Lafayette streets and line up with a signalized pedestrian crossing for the new MAX Orange Line Rhine Street/Southeast 17th Avenue Station.

In the coming months, Lorenz Bruun Construction will continue work on the bridge deck, stairs and elevators. The bridge is slated for completion in summer 2015.