The NE 33rd Avenue Bridge over NE Lombard Street is currently partially closed after engineers with the Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) observed damage to the concrete in one of the bridge’s cross beams on August 25, 2021.
What's Happening Now
June 15, 2022 Update: The shoring footing work is now complete and now crew is working on fabricating the steel support structure. We do not have a reopening date for the bridge at this time. Sign up above to receive updates. We appreciate your continued patience with this closure and related detours.
May 17, 2022 Update: On site repair work continues with formwork pinned down and concrete for the support footings scheduled to be poured later this week. We do not have a reopening date for the bridge at this time. Sign up above to receive updates. We appreciate your continued patience with this closure and related detours.
April 26, 2022 Update: Repair work is underway on site. This week a crew is pinning down forms and tying rebar to support the damaged bridge structures for repair. We do not have a reopening date for the bridge at this time, but we expect repairs to take at least two more months. Sign up above to receive updates. We appreciate your continued patience with this closure and related detours.
Feb. 24, 2022 Update: Repair work is proceeding slower than hoped, but construction is scheduled to begin on concrete footings under the damaged bridge sections next week. These footings are designed to support a temporary structure that will hold up the bridge while repair work is completed. The bridge will remain closed at least another 4 months. Sign up above to receive updates. We appreciate your continued patience with this closure and related detours.
Nov. 29, 2021 Update: PBOT engineers have completed the foundation design for the temporary steel bracing structure needed for the bridge repairs. Construction has begun on the these temporary foundations. Work will soon begin on fabricating the temporary support structure for the bridge. The bridge will remain closed at least another 4 months will these . Additionally, the team has determined the bridge repair will require a full bridge closure for approximately two months. Sign up above to receive updates in advance of this full closure and construction work. We appreciate your patience with these repairs and detours.
Sept. 15, 2021 Update: PBOT engineers have completed initial investigations of the bridge condition. They are now at work designing a temporary steel bracing to support the structure during repairs. The temporary bracing will keep the bridge standing as portions of the damaged concrete crossbeam are removed and replaced. We hope to have the temporary bracing design complete by the end of September and will then work to get it procured, fabricated and installed. Portlanders should expect the portions of the bridge currently closed to remain so for at least another 6 months. We appreciate your patience with these repairs and detours.
Aug. 25, 2021 Update: PBOT crews expect to complete further investigations and preliminary analysis of the bridge structure next week. This work will help us better understand the extent of the damage and allow us to begin design of a temporary bridge support. Detour signage is being installed and will route impacted travelers to the 42nd Avenue bridge over NE Lombard Street.
Current Detours
PBOT crews have closed the northbound NE 33rd Avenue to eastbound NE Columbia Boulevard ramp and all NE Columbia Boulevard ramps to southbound NE 33rd Avenue to all motor vehicles. All lanes remain open to pedestrians and people on bikes.
People driving motor vehicles will only be able to cross the NE 33rd Avenue Bridge northbound to continue through to NE 33rd Drive or westbound to NE Columbia Boulevard. People driving impacted by the partial closure can follow detour signage to the bridge at 42nd Avenue. People riding TriMet’s Line 70 bus should visit https://trimet.org/#alerts/ for the latest information on service impacts.
The bridge is 92 years old. The typical bridge design life for bridges of this vintage is approximately 50 years. The bureau appreciates the patience of travelers as we make these necessary closures to support public safety.