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

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

Join ODOT to Learn More About the I-5 Viaduct Replacement Project at SW Iowa St.

The I-5 viaduct that crosses the ravine at SW Iowa Street must be replaced. The viaduct columns are in need of major repairs and do not meet seismic standards. The bridge deck is in poor condition, with cracks appearing faster than they can be patched. The replacement viaduct will be wider to accommodate upgraded shoulders and median and will include new retaining walls in the project area.

A contractor for the Oregon Department of Transportation is preparing to start construction on this project to replace the I-5 viaduct at SW Iowa St. (milepost 298 on I-5, just north of the Terwilliger Boulevard ramps and just south of the Corbett Avenue off-ramp). Construction on the three-year project is expected to begin as early as this summer.

Come Learn More.
A construction project on I-5 presents unique challenges, especially in areas where easy detours are not available. ODOT has already talked with a number of neighbors about construction impacts. They would like to talk to you, too!

ODOT will host an informal Open House about the project in the Portland French School Lobby on June 10. The Open House will include the most recent information about potential noise, traffic, landscaping and trail impacts. The construction manager will be on hand to talk about the contractor’s schedule.

Thursday, June 10, 5 p.m. – 7 p.m.
Portland French School Lobby
6318 SW Corbett St.

If you can’t join us at the Open House, you can check the web site for the most current information: www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/iowaviaduct/ <http://www.oregon.gov/ODOT/HWY/REGION1/iowaviaduct/>
Or call or email Mike Mason:  503.731.8246 or michael.w.mason@odot.state.or.us

On Wednesday the City of Portland has put out a solicitation for design and engineering proposals for work to be done along Moody Ave, according to the DJC.  System Development Charges, along with federal funding would go towards improving the only northern entrance to the South Waterfront District.  Read the entire story at the DJC:

“South Waterfront planners in tough spot” by Justin Carinci

Important Message, Please Note:

Beginning Monday October 26, 2009 the gravel parking lot on the south side of Gaines Street across from Atwater Place will be managed by Star Park LLC.  As of Monday, October 26th this lot will no longer be free and those using it will need to pay for parking. The lot will be patrolled frequently for violators. Monthly passes will be available as well as a pay station for short term parkers who will be able to purchase a ticket to display on their dash.

For more information, please contact Star Park at 503-223-4128.

Driving around the district this week may seem a little different to everyone.  Over the weekend the Portland Buearu of Transportation implemented a few traffic changes in the district – including making Gaines street a 2 way street, the removal of stop signs from Moody Ave. and additional cautionary signs highlighting these changes.  Here is the official word from PBOT:

Changes in South Waterfront Traffic Circulation

The City of Portland’s Bureau of Transportation will make changes to South Waterfront traffic circulation in early October, 2009.  The work will address requests made by residents in the neighborhood and by the operators of the Portland Streetcar.

> All Way stops at SW Bond Ave and SW Curry St, SW Moody Ave and SW Curry St, and SW Moody Ave and SW Gaines St will be removed.  Gaines and Curry will still be stop controlled at Bond and at Moody
> SW Gaines and SW Curry will carry two way traffic between Moody and Bond.  Curry and Gaines between Macadam and Moody will remain one way.
> A Speed 25 sign will be added on SW Bond north of Bancroft.

These changes are expected to provide better access to, from and within the South Waterfront area.

Please call or email if you have questions or comments.

Thank you,
Peter Mason, PE
Traffic Investigations
E-mail:  Peter.Mason@pdxtrans.org
(503) 823-5234

Walking around South Waterfront today we found 2 new businesses that have either just opened or are about to open.  Here’s some quick info on our new neighbors:

The first one that is open now is called GREENToko, they are a manufacturer of plantation grown teak wood furniture, and the owners are residents of the Meriwether.  This is high quality patio furniture for very reasonable prices.  Go check them out on the west side of the John Ross building, next to Bambuza and Umpqua Bank.  Also, mention that you are a South Waterfront resident and get an additional 10% off!

The other new business is The Dog House, a doggie daycare and wash facility located on the west side of Riva on the Park (3720 SW Moody Ave.).  The Dog House won’t open officially until August 21st, but come out for an”Open Dog House” on August 15 and 16 from 12 – 3pm to meet the owners and see the new space.  For more information visit: www.thedoghouseportland.com.

Over the summer the City will be reviewing the street plans for South Waterfront.  This was recently posted on PDOT’s website: South Waterfront District Street Plan

Residents attended one Open House on June 11 and provided the city input and it seems that many of the suggestions will be taken into consideration for a comprehensive plan for the district.

On October 30th Zidell launched another barge from their factory here in the South Waterfront.  One of the residents in the Meriwether building made a video of the launch from their balcony – excellent view point.  Check out the video on You Tube:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SePwwFIW1Sc