The Gibbs St.Bridge is moving forward – getting us ever closer to construction!  A bridge type has been selected and the Open House on June 17 at Umpqua Bank in the South Waterfront attracted over 95 people.  Here is the full article:

Gibbs Street Pedestrian Bridge

August 24, 2010

Dear South Waterfront neighbor,

The Portland Bureau of Transportation’s SW Moody Project will reconstruct SW Moody Avenue from SW River Parkway to SW Gibbs Street. Design is currently underway and construction is anticipated to begin in January 2011.

The improved SW Moody Avenue will include three traffic lanes, dual streetcar tracks, and pedestrian and bicycle facilities. The roadway will be elevated with fill, allowing redevelopers of adjacent brownfields to offer “tuck under parking” without disturbing capped contaminated areas. The elevated street also integrates mixed-use developments with street-level transit facilities, encouraging transit ridership and reducing auto trips.

Notice of Nighttime Work

Next week, a private contractor will be doing work to locate underground utilities on SW Moody Avenue from below the Ross Island Bridge to SW Gibbs Street. The information that will be gathered is critical to the design and construction of the project.

The work will require lane closures on SW Moody Ave during working hours. Flaggers and signage will direct motorists around the work zone. All lanes of SW Moody will be open to traffic outside of the working hours.

The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) has received a noise variance permit from the City’s Noise Control Office to allow this work to occur at night between 8:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. Nighttime work is expected to begin on Sunday evening, August 29th and continue through Friday morning, September 3rd.

Anticipated construction noise includes coring into the existing roadway pavement, removing the materials using a vacuum excavation truck, backfilling and compacting the hole with rock, and restoring the pavement with asphalt. Work at each coring location is expected to take one to two hours and the contractor will be completing work at approximately 20 locations.

If you have construction noise issues, please contact PBOT’s project liaison, Jean Senechal Biggs at 503-823-1872 or by email at jean.senechalbiggs@portlandoregon.gov. PBOT is required to send to the City of Portland Noise Control Officer a complaint report and log details on problem resolution. Complaints and the noise variance will be reviewed, and either a noise mitigation plan will be developed, or the noise variance will be modified. The City’s Noise Control Office can be reach at 503-823-7350.

If you have any questions or concerns about this work or the project, please don’t hesitate to contact me at 503-823-7051 or by email at chris.armes@portlandoregon.gov. For more information about the project, please visit our web site at www.swmoodyproject.com

Thank you for your patience and cooperation while we perform this work.

Chris Armes, Project Manager

Portland Bureau of Transportation

Come one come all to celebrate the River at South Waterfront with a movie in brand new Elizabeth Caruthers Park!  Activities begin at 7:00 p.m., movie begins at dusk.
Featuring:

• Live Music
• The Mayor of Hooperville with Hula Hoop Lessons
• Handmade artisan vendors
• Kids activities
• Free Ice Cream from Umpqua Bank
• Free Italian Sodas from Old Spaghetti Factory
• Free Popcorn

Movie starts at dusk, featuring “Mamma Mia!”

RiverFest Movie in the Park at South Waterfront

Saturday, August 21, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Elizabeth Caruthers Park
3508 SW Moody Ave., Portland, OR. Map it

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Elizabeth Caruthers Park Grand Opening
Join South Waterfront friends and neighbors for the Grand Opening of Elizabeth Caruthers Park.  Festivities will include a Ribbon Cutting ceremony at 6:00 p.m. with City Parks Director Zari Santner and Commissioner Nick Fish, music by the Pete Krebs Swing Jazz Band, FREE Ice Cream, a rock climbing wall, kids activities, FREE Italian sodas from the Old Spaghetti Factory and Bocce Ball instruction from the Portland Bocce League.

Presented by Portland Parks and Recreation, South Waterfront Community Relations and the Portland Development Commission.

Elizabeth Caruthers Park Grand Opening
Thursday, August 19, 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
Elizabeth Caruthers Park
3508 SW Moody Ave., Portland, OR Map it

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Artist Emily Hyde will bring ‘about space’ to life between sunset and sunrise on the 12th of August with the opening of her immersive new projected light installation, mise-en-abyme.  You are invited to experience this ethereal complexity of light and reflection in the transformed commercial space.

Presented by Heidi McBride Gallery & Art Consultancy, along with partners Atwater Place and South Waterfront Community Relations.

Installation viewable from outside the space 24/7.

about space: Opening Reception featuring Emily Hyde

Thursday, August 12, 7:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
SW River Pkwy & SW Gaines St., Portland, OR Map It

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Come one come all to celebrate the River at South Waterfront with a movie in brand new Elizabeth Caruthers Park!  Activities begin at 7:00 p.m., movie begins at dusk.
Featuring:

• Live Music
• The Mayor of Hooperville with Hula Hoop Lessons
• Handmade artisan vendors
• Kids activities
• Free Ice Cream from Umpqua Bank
• Free Italian Sodas from Old Spaghetti Factory
• Free Popcorn

Movie starts at dusk, featuring “Mamma Mia!”

RiverFest Movie in the Park at South Waterfront

Saturday, August 21, 7:00 p.m. – 11:00 p.m.
Elizabeth Caruthers Park
3508 SW Moody Ave., Portland, OR. Map it

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Join us for the culmination of Helen Hiebert’s “Mother Tree” installation, with a performance by choreographer Tracy Broyles.  Tracy’s performance will highlight the power all humans have to receive, give and grow through kinship and support. Everyone who attends will be invited to crochet a root!

‘about space’ is a rotating site-based installation space presented by Heidi McBride Gallery & Art Consultancy, South Waterfront Community Relations and Atwater place. Its located on the corner of SW Gaines and River Parkway.
about space: Closing Reception & Performance

Friday, July 30, 6:00 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.
about space
SW Gaines &  SW River Parkway, Portland, OR Map It

RSVP: communityrelations@southwaterfront.com or call 503-972-3289

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC

Get Going Oregon! is a fun walking and fundraising challenge benefiting OHSU’s Harold Schnitzer Diabetes Health Center’s education program. This walking fundraiser challenges you to step 10,000 steps a day (average) for the entire month of August.  You, your team or family can set activity and fundraising goals, and compete for great prizes.  Pre-register at www.getgoingoregon.org.  The kick-off includes fun 1M, 5M and 5K walks, a guided 4T Trail hike, classes, vendros, health screenings and more.  Registrants receive a special digital pedometer, activity tracker, and entry in the August challenge that will be publicized online as well as on KATU and KPAM.

Kick-Off Event and Health Fair
Saturday July 24, 9:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
OHSU Center for Health and Healing
3303 SW Bond Ave., Portland OR 97239
Click here for a map.

The South Waterfront Transportation Management Association officially begins this month and the TMA is hosting an Open House for members of the community to come and learn more about the goals of the TMA and how members can get involved.  Also many TMA partner organizations will be on hand discussing how to utilize their resources for sustainable transportation.  Partner organizations include:

Zipcar
Lloyd District TMA
Portland Streetcar
Bicycle Transportation Alliance
City of Portland
Portland Afoot

South Waterfront TMA Open House
Wednesday, July 21, 4:00 p.m. – 7:00 p.m.
Umpqua Bank
3606 SW Bond Ave., Portland, OR  Map It

RSVP: communityrelations@southwaterfront.com or call 503-972-3289

FREE OPEN TO THE PUBLIC