The top rendering shows a cross section of the new 42nd Avenue Bridge and a view from the east, showing NE Lombard and freight rail tracks. The bottom rendering shows the bridge will have more space for people biking and walking than the old bridge, which only has one narrow sidewalk on one side. Image by Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT).
(July 15, 2025) The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) is about to start construction on a new earthquake-ready NE 42nd Avenue Bridge over NE Lombard Street. The new bridge will provide better access for freight, and will connect pedestrians and people biking to the NE Holman Neighborhood Greenway and the NE 47th Avenue multi-use path.
Construction will require a bridge closure for two years, starting on Monday, Aug. 4.
Cascade Bridge was selected as the construction contractor through a competitive bidding process in 2024.
The nearest alternative routes for general vehicle traffic -- NE 33rd Avenue, NE 60th Avenue and Cully Blvd -- are not close by and cannot handle the longest or heaviest tractor trailers.
PBOT will post signs for a detour route for freight, recommending northbound trucks go east on NE Killingsworth Street to NE 82nd Avenue, north to reach NE Columbia Blvd. Southbound freight traffic will be directed to go east on NE Columbia Blvd to NE Cully Blvd, then south to NE Killingsworth Street.
People driving passenger vehicles may choose to take other area streets to cross NE Lombard Street.
There is currently no bike lane on the bridge, and no nearby bike facility, so no bike detour will be posted.
The traveling public is advised to use alternative routes, expect delays, travel cautiously, and observe all closures and directions by flaggers. Local access to residences and businesses near the bridge ramps will remain available.
Public transit riders should check TriMet.org for service impacts.
This work is weather-dependent, and the schedule may change.
NE Lombard Street, a state highway, will be closed for three weekends during the construction period. Those weekend dates have not been scheduled yet, but public notification will be provided ahead of those closures.
Map shows the detour route that will be posted for freight. People driving passenger vehicles may choose to take other area streets to cross NE Lombard. Map by PBOT.
The bridge carries about 5,000 car trips a day and connects much of NE Portland to the Portland International Airport, the Whitaker Ponds Natural Area and other destinations.
Learn more and sign up to receive updates by email or text message at the project website for the NE 42nd Avenue Bridge Replacement
Sign up to attend an online open house later this month, where you can learn more
To help Portlanders better understand the upcoming construction plans, PBOT will host a virtual webinar-style update on the project, followed by a live Q&A session. The virtual session will be recorded and posted online for those unable to attend.
The focus of the presentation is to take a deep dive into the map of the construction plan for the bridge and indicate what the detours will be in place during the closure period. If you’d like to learn exactly where construction will occur and when; understand detour impacts and plan your travel routes; speak directly with PBOT about design detours; and help make the project more accessible by sharing the information - these are the meetings for you.
For more general questions and concerns, such as project background, please reach out to PBOT Project Manager Winston Sandino directly (contact info below), as we will not have time for a deep dive into these topics in the plan walkthrough meeting.
Register & Attend
Virtual Webinar Thursday, July 31, 2025 • 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
Open to the public — Register Here
Project Funding
This $25 million project is funded by city, state and other funds, including: $6 million in PBOT System Development Charges (SDCs) which are fees developers pay to off-set the impact of job and population growth; $4 million from the Heavy Vehicle Use Tax and $1 million from the Portland Clean Energy Community Benefits Fund.
In 2016 and 2020, Portland City Council approved a four-year Heavy Vehicle Use Tax (HVUT), collected on businesses delivering goods within city limits. Along with the voter-approved 10-cent gas tax, revenues go to PBOT’s Fixing Our Streets program, funding projects along priority freight routes.
Learn more about Fixing Our Streets funding and projects.
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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.