Congressman Earl Blumenauer Bicycle and Pedestrian Bridge

KPFF provided structural and civil engineering and surveying for the design of the Blumenauer Bridge, a new pedestrian/bicycle bridge at NE Seventh Avenue that spans I-84. The $13.7 million bridge provides a key north-south connection for Northeast Portland.

Blumenauer Bridge extends 475-feet and spans 24-feet in width. The bridge has a 14-foot-wide path for two-way bicycle traffic, and a 10-foot-wide path for pedestrians.  In addition to providing bike and pedestrian access, the bridge is designed to be a seismically resilient lifeline route over I-84 and UPRR for emergency vehicles. In addition to providing a crossing of UPRR and I-84, the bridge landings are within two very different Urban Zones on Portland’s eastside: the Central Eastside Industrial District and the Lloyd District. KPFF and the design team worked with the City and business groups to create safe and open landings to foster development opportunities within both districts.

The span is also a key link in the City’s Green Loop that will eventually provide walking and cycling options around the central city and the Willamette River. Due to its highly-visible location, aesthetic design concepts and size, the Blumenauer Bridge is a signature structure for the City.  KPFF designed the tied-arch span structure, which was designed to evoke the path a skipping stone makes on the surface of water.

Additional Services Provided:

• Bridge Design
• Stormwater Management
• Green Streets
• 3D Laser Scanning