The Steel Bridge will be closed to cars, buses and MAX trains August 2-24, 2008, as crews connect existing tracks to the new MAX Green Line tracks on 5th and 6th avenues. Shuttle buses will be carrying MAX riders across the river between the Old Town/Chinatown Station and the Rose Quarter/Convention Center stations.

The lower deck of the Steel Bridge will remain open to bikes and pedestrians but this closure will still have an effect on your bike commute, particularly if you ride through the Rose Quarter Transit Center (which is still illegal, though in September it will be open to bikes) or if you normally ride MAX through there with your bike. Be careful, and avoid it!

Check out the bike route map here.

Biking around the Steel Bridge:

–Expect increased bike/pedestrian traffic on the Steel Bridge, on the Esplanade and in the Rose Quarter area. If possible, consider using the Broadway, Burnside or Hawthorne bridges to avoid delays.

–The shuttles replacing MAX service will be going up NE Wheeler making it a far busier bus street than normal. It's safer and faster to follow the designated route.

Bringing your bike on MAX:

–It will probably be faster to bike across the Steel Bridge to the than to use the shuttle bus. (The ride across the bridge will take about 7 minutes compared to 15 minutes on the bus shuttle.) Follow the signs to the bike route on the lower deck of the bridge. Stay on the marked path, and be considerate of pedestrians.

–Plan ahead and allow extra time for your trips.

–Southbound Yellow Line riders: Get off at Interstate/Rose Quarter station and ride your bike to your destination. You can follow the signs to the Steel Bridge and re-board MAX at Old/Town Chinatown Station. Or, stay on the Esplanade to cross the Hawthorne Bridge.

–Westbound Blue/Red Line riders: Get off at Rose Quarter TC and walk your bike along the marked path to Interstate Avenue. Then, follow the signs to ride across the Steel Bridge and re-board MAX at Old/Town Chinatown Station.

–Northbound Yellow Line riders: There will be no Yellow Line service on the west side of the river. Bike to Old Town and follow the signs on Davis Street to cross the Steel Bridge and connect with northbound Yellow Line trains at Interstate/Rose Quarter Station or eastbound Blue and Red line trains at Rose Quarter TC.

–Eastbound Blue/Red Line riders: Please allow extra time for your trips. Fewer MAX trains will be running between Old Town and Hillsboro. Get off at Old Town/Chinatown Station, follow the signs on Davis Street to cross the Steel Bridge and connect with eastbound Blue and Red line trains at Rose Quarter TC or northbound Yellow Line trains at Interstate/Rose Quarter Station.

And as always when bringing your bike on MAX:

–Travel outside of rush hour to avoid crowding. The farther away from 8 a.m. or 5 p.m. you make your trip, the more room there is on the trains.

–Be polite when putting your bike on a crowded train.

–Remember that TriMet only allows bikes in designated bike-spots.

–Try parking your bike at a MAX platform instead of bringing it on the train. Additional bike parking will be available during this time. For information about bike lockers at MAX stations, visit TriMet's bike and bike lockers pages.

You can skip to the end and leave a response. Pinging is currently not allowed.