PBOT Traffic Advisory: Crews open two lanes on North Going Street Bridge, with one lane of traffic each direction to Swan Island, as evaluation of damage from train crash continues

News Article
Published
Updated
In this article

(Sept. 8, 2019) The Portland Bureau of Transportation advises the traveling public that as of 2:30 p.m. today, crews have opened two travel lanes on the North Going Street Bridge, which was closed on Saturday morning after a train crashed into bridge support columns.

Travelers are directed to the north side of the bridge, where one lane in each direction is open. A multiuse path that provides bicycle and pedestrian access on the north side of the bridge is also open. A detour route that was used over the weekend on N River Street -- a narrow, private street -- has been removed. The public should not use River Street any longer.

The North Going Street Bridge provides the only public street access to Swan Island, a key location for industrial employers, with hundreds of workers and significant freight traffic.

The public is advised to use caution. Expect significant congestion and travel delays in the area. The bridge normally has three travel lanes in each direction.

Structural engineers continue to investigate and assess the bridge damage. There is no timeline for when the other lanes may be reopened. It could take weeks or months to repair the bridge.

The bridge was closed on Saturday morning, after a Union Pacific train derailed and crashed into concrete columns that support the bridge.

Image removed.

North Going Street Bridge provides the only public access to Swan Island, a key industrial area in North Portland. Mpa by Portland Bureau of Transportation and Google Maps.

Union Pacific locomotives pulling tank cars crashed into columns that support the bridge. There are no known injuries from the crash.

PBOT structural engineers assessed the scene on Saturday, and again on Sunday morning. After the train wreckage was removed, engineers could access more of the bridge on Sunday for further structural evaluation and damage assessment.

The northern side of the bridge does not appear to be damaged, but damage to other parts of the bridge was found on Sunday to be worse than initially thought. A second support column was damaged, and damage to the bridge deck was also discovered.

Further inspections will take place in coming days, which may include taking core samples and removing parts of the structure and surrounding soils to gain a better understanding of the extent of the damage.

Sign up here for email updates about the repairs to the North Going Street Bridge and access to Swan Island
Image removed.
Sign up to receive PBOT's citywide traffic advisories by email or text message, and monitor our Twitter account @PBOTinfo for breaking news and alerts

###

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is the steward of the City’s transportation system, and a community partner in shaping a livable city. We plan, build, manage and maintain an effective and safe transportation system that provides access and mobility. www.portlandoregon.gov/transportation